The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), which is tasked with national responsiveness to disaster, continues to ensure that the requisite personnel and stakeholders receive the necessary training that will ensure maximum response and efficiency in the event of a disaster. During August 7 to 14, student nurses, numbering 112, from Region 6, were trained in disaster risk management, damage assessment and needs analysis.
The training is believed to be of critical importance by the CDC, as a professional can identify with what his/her role is, and what is required during a disaster situation, which ultimately will yield maximum efficiency with the provision of services.
Sean Welcome, a CDC volunteer, said that in keeping with the Commission’s mandate and noting the amount of capacity enhancement work that has to be executed countrywide, the training was scheduled.
He added that the volunteer corps of the commission will be executing a number of capacity building training sessions.
“The volunteer corps is made up of many young professionals from varyious regions of the country…the idea is to ensure their capacity is boosted then replicated in their communities,” Welcome said.
The CDC, as part of its endeavours to establish and maintain regional and national disaster plans, and to test the efficiency of such plans, recently hosted a national table-top exercise- “Exercise Flood Gate 2012”.
Whilst this exercise tested the response and regional plan for Region 3, emergency disaster stakeholders were trained in damage assessment and needs analysis; and emergency operations centre management, along with other pertinent modules that saw the success of the exercise.
CDC has noted the significant work it has done over the years, and is currently working on establishing a volunteer corps which will enhance the work of the commission throughout the region.