Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Youth Empowerment Program Against Drug (YEPAD) of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the National Drug Secretariat of the Prime Minister’s Office, launched, this evening, a Training of Trainers’ Programme, aimed at engaging community members in the fight against drugs, at Vallée Pitot Polyvalent Centre, in Port Louis.
The Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo; the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), Dr Ismaël Rawoo; and other personalities were present on the occasion.
In his keynote address, the Vice-Prime Minister highlighted that today’s event marks the launching in the eleventh region, out of the twenty regions around the country, of YEPAD’s Training of trainers’ programme, which was first launched in March 2021 in Roche Bois.
Its objective, Dr Husnoo underlined, is to empower communities with the right knowledge and training so that they are able to provide information, education and support to prevent drug consumption in their localities, thereby reducing and eliminating the use and abuse of intoxicating and mind-altering substances.
The programme, he recalled, includes several training and awareness sessions conducted by representatives from the Harm Reduction Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness; the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation; the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare; the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit of the Mauritius Police Force; and non-governmental organisations.
Underlining the importance of a community-based approach in preventing and reducing drug abuse across the country, he pointed out that this is a high priority on Government’s agenda and, a zero-tolerance policy has been adopted at all levels with regard to all cases of substance abuse.
He reiterated the need for a concerted approach to respond adequately to the dangers brought about by the scourge of drugs to society and in particular to youngsters.
With regard to the prevalence of substance abuse among the youth, especially in schools and colleges, an upward trend is noted, said Dr Husnoo, adding that youths are vulnerable to addictive substances due to peer pressure.
On that score, information and education remain an important tool to shield our younger generation from being afflicted by this scourge, given that synthetic cannabinoids have now penetrated our schools and colleges and are threatening the well-being of our children, he pointed out.
In addition, the Vice-Prime Minister encouraged everybody to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they possibly can as, according to him, safe and effective vaccines are absolutely the best way to end this pandemic.
He lauded the 70% of the elderly population who have already inoculated themselves and urged the remaining 30% to get vaccinated as they are considered among those who are more vulnerable to the severe consequences of COVID-19.
For his part, PPS Rawoo underlined that the participants of the empowerment programme will receive a one-week training on the extent to which drugs can cause someone to lose control and become vulnerable, and will enable participants to sustain drug prevention activities in their locality.
He outlined that drug use, supply, trafficking groups and the substances themselves continue to shift and diversify at an alarming speed with the new psychoactive substances market.
Drug trafficking continues to operate through a major network but ways of doing business are changing and criminals, exploiting new methods, are altering the nature of the illicit drug trade and the types of players involved, Dr Rawoo highlighted.
In this context, the PPS underlined that the Government is deploying all necessary efforts so as to educate and empower the youth on drug resistance and resilience skills to counter the drug scourge and thus maintain them safe and healthy.
In addition, he highlighted that all Mauritians must work together to prevent drug abuse among youths and informed the participants of the empowerment programme that any age group can fall prey to drug abuse and that these people should be given the appropriate support.
