Wednesday 10 August 2016

Local Disaster Response teams of 15 sectors refreshed on disaster management and first aid


participants undergo emergency response training to support  local communities affected by disasters

In efforts to reduce disaster risks and ensure timely response when calamity hits, Rwanda Red Cross has set up disaster response teams from the National, district to sector levels which are charged with day today management of disaster risks and response whenever need arises.
These teams are supported by regular training to ensure they are well positioned to deliver as expected and in this regard, Local Disaster Response Teams (LDRTs) of 15 sectors in the districts of Gakenke Ngororero, Nyabihu, Karongi and Rutsiro received refresher training in disaster management and first aid skills.
In total, 300 volunteers who constitute the 15 disaster response teams participated in this training.
Contents of the training included largely disaster management skills with a greater focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR) which is implemented through Rwanda Red Cross’ Model Village approach that aims at empowering community resilience to economic and disaster shocks.
Skills imparted in DRR include mapping of local disaster risks, mobilizing community efforts to mitigate disaster risks, educating communities on how to reduce disaster risks and these constitute the responsibilities of the disaster response teams.
Rwanda Red Cross as a component of the Red Cross Movement has in the recent past strengthened its efforts in disaster risk reduction especially through efforts to build community resilience through socioeconomic empowerment of the most vulnerable people and other environmental protection efforts.
According to various studies by UN and IFRC on investing in disaster risk reduction, it is now believed that one dollar investment in disaster risk reduction saves between two to ten dollars that would otherwise be spent in response.

Besides skills in disaster management, participants received refresher on first aid skills which are essential in disaster response activities particularly in road accidents, household incidents like fire outbreaks and burns, and other injuries that may result from various factors.





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