Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Youth Empowerment Programme against Drugs (YEPAD), aimed at engaging community members in the combat against the drug scourge, was launched, yesterday, at the Baie du Cap Village Hall.
The programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the National Drug Secretariat of the Prime Minister’s Office.
It aims is to empower young people and other members of the community to sustain drug prevention activities in their respective locality and surrounding regions. Members of Parliament, Mr Nand Prakash Ramchurn and Ms Marie Sandra Mayotte, and other eminent personalities were present at the event.
In their address, both Mr Ramchurn and Ms Mayotte underlined that Government as well as NGOs are working together to protect and empower the youth against the scourge of drugs. Mr Ramchurn thus reiterated for a concerted approach to respond to the dangers of drugs consumption among the youth.
Ms Mayotte underlined that this programme will help caution the youth on different types of substances, and illicit drug trade as well as enable them to develop drug resistance.
The Members of Parliament also dwelt on the importance of a community-based approach in preventing and reducing drug abuse, as well as the role of parents, family and the public, to guide and educate the youth on the ill effects of drugs.
YEPAD YEPAD was launched on 1st March 2021 at the Roche Bois Social Welfare Centre, at the joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the National Drug Secretariat of the Prime Minister’s Office.
A Training of Trainers, is being implemented in 26 regions by a core team of persons who are knowledgeable and well acquainted in community drug prevention programme and who are active in regions considered as drug prone areas. The team consists of key persons from NGOs and staff of the Harm Reduction Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
As at date, YEPAD has reached 418 participants in 16 regions around the country namely Roche Bois, Petite Riviere, St Pierre, Mahebourg, Cite Vallijee, Cite L’Oiseau, Cite Mangalkhan, Bel- Air, La Tour-Koenig, Triolet, Le Hochet-Terre Rouge, Vallée Pitôt, L’Escalier, Petite Rivière Noire, Plaine Verte, and Rivière des Anguilles.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
