The occasion
was an opportunity for the charitable association to hand over gifts to
schools, rural women and health centres in the locality of the South Region.
On the occasion of the 52nd National
Youth Day, the non-profitable organisation of Cameroon’s First Lady, the Circle
of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), organised educative talks with youths of Mintom
Sub division in the Dja and Lobo Division of the South Region on social ills
plaguing the youthful generation nationwide.
The personal representative of the
First Lady at the event which took place on February 9, 2018, was Béatrice Evou
Mekou, Head of CERAC Delegation to the South Region.
The presence of a CERAC delegation
at Mintom was a clear indication that the First Lady, Chantal Biya, reserved
celebration to mark this year’s Youth Day with youths in the locality so that
they can become responsible citizens. Béatrice Evou Mekou and her crew began
discussions with students of Government Secondary School Mintom in their
various classrooms.
The ladies had discussions with
students on hygiene and sanitation, HIV/AIDS and the humanitarian activities of
Mrs Chantal Biya amongst other topics. Later at the Mintom ceremonial ground,
the population as well as youths listened to talks from experts from the
Ministries of Public Health, Social Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, the
General Delegation For National
Security, the National Committee for the Fight Against Drugs, the National
Agency For Information and Communication Technologies on the negative
consequences of drugs and other stimulants on the health of youths, cyber
criminality and inherent risk linked to the uncensored use of social network,
sexuality and unwanted pregnancy, Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) and
hepatitis A, B and C.
The Permanent Secretary for the Drug
Control Committee, Pascal Magloire Awono said drug consumption was an epidemic
amongst young people as some 12,000 youths between the ages of 13 and 15
consume drugs such as cannabis and tramadol.
With the negative impact on their
behaviour and studies, students were advised to shun drug consumption and other
practices which hinder their proper behaviour in the society. Parents were also
called to take major responsibility in following-up their children’s education,
not to offer them mobile phones when they are still minors and also to teach them
to be respectful, discipline and assiduous.
The personal representative of the
First Lady said it was an opportunity for CERAC to equip some 60 rural women
associations with modern agricultural tools, schools with didactic materials
and cleaning equipment, drugs and other medical equipment to health structures
as well as special gifts to bike riders, association of Baka and clergy.
While noting that some women have
been trained by CERAC on how to process cassava into garri and other perishable
products, Béatrice Evou Mekou said she hoped that the gifts will go a long way
to improve the living conditions of the people.
Just like other speakers, Caroline
Afane Mengue, on behalf of beneficiaries thanked the First Lady and her
association for such timely gifts which she said will help them better dig the
soil to cultivate crops for better living.
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