The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, reiterated the need for a concerted approach to respond adequately to the dangers brought about by the scourge of drugs to society and to youngsters.
The Minister was addressing participants of the Youth Empowerment programme against drugs (YEPAD) at Petite Rivière Community centre yesterday.
The programme, which was first launched in March 2021 in Roche Bois, is proposed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with the National Drug Secretariat of the Prime Minister’s Office. Its objective is to empower communities with the right knowledge and training so that they can provide information, education and support to prevent drug consumption in their localities.
This drug prevention programme consists of several awareness sessions by resource persons from the Harm Reduction Unit of the Ministry; 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, among others.
In his address, the Minister stated that all Mauritians must work together to prevent drug abuse among youths. He recalled that the Third report of the National Drug Observatory published last November showed that the number of people who inject drugs in Mauritius stood at 6,000. Underlining the importance of a community-based approach in preventing and reducing drug abuse across the country, Dr Jagutpal said that the YEPAD will be extended to some 20 localities in Mauritius.
Moreover, the Minister stressed to participants of the empowerment programme that any age group can fall prey to drug abuse and that these people should not be blamed or judged. Rather, he added, you should offer support to assist in their recovery from drug abuse.
