MANGA — Brother Bruno Mendy, the superintendent of Saint Gabriel private high school in Manga, expressed concern on Thursday about parents’ lack of involvement in preventing drug use among students.

According to a new release by Burkina Information Agency, Mendy spoke during an awareness session organized by the SP-CNLD at his school.

The superintendent stated that family education has been overtaken by the influence of social networks and television. He emphasized the importance of parental supervision in preventing drug consumption among youth. In his view, parents should be constantly present in their children’s lives to steer them away from drugs.

Mendy welcomed the SP-CNLD’s initiative, saying it filled the void left by parents. He urged students from the Center-South region and all over Burkina Faso to avoid drug use for the sake of their future.

Levy Yoda, the head of the department of prevention and monitoring of legislation at SP-CNLD, outlined that the awareness campaign aims to combat the production, marketing, and consumption of drugs. According to Yoda, the campaign in Manga will take place from October 23 to 28, 2023, and aims to reach over 1,600 students in seven schools, including four secondary and three primary establishments. He further clarified that drugs are divided into licit, such as cigarettes and coffee, and illicit, such as cocaine and cannabis. Consumption and sale of the latter category are prohibited by law.

Nationally, the SP-CNLD’s campaign is expected to be implemented in a total of six regions in 2023, added Yoda.