DISASTER REDUCTION DAY MARKED
DISASTER REDUCTION DAY MARKED October 14, 2009
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD – BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
A programmes manager of Action Aid Ghana, Mr. Michael Lumor has stated that even though disasters bring pain and hardships, they also bring along with them opportunities for people affected to think together and take collective decisions to lesson the negative impact of disasters on them.
The programmes manager who made the statement at this year’s celebration of international disaster risk reduction day further stated that the celebration affords stakeholders the opportunity to identify the root causes of the negative effects of disasters in order to deal will them effectively.
Mr. Lumor noted that the theme for this year’s celebration "Hospital safe from disaster" throws a challenge to government and its institutions to fortify the physical infrastructure of health facilities at the regional and district levels so that victims of disasters will be given the needed medical attention and secured custody at the health facilities in times of disasters.
He hinted that as from next year celebrations, stakeholders will be made to give account of their works done towards reducing disasters in their areas.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Honourable Mark Owen Woyongo in a keynote address said the international day for disaster risk reduction was instituted by the United Nations in 1989 and is being celebrated each year to raise general awareness about the need to reduce disasters.
The regional minister observed that the floods that hit the region in 2007 caused extensive loss to property and several losses of hives. He said a good number of people in the region are yet to recover fully from the destruction brought by those floods.
Honourable Woyongo noted that it was the prompt intervention of government and development partners that gave relief to victims at the time, and thanked Action Aid Ghana in particular for its continuous support to government in fighting disasters.
He disclosed that poverty alleviation in the three northern regions has engaged the attention of the Atta Mills government since it assumed office and added that government will leave no stone unturned until the desired results are achieved.
Honourable Woyongo expressed relief that the rainy season will soon be over with its attendant floods but was again worried about other forms of disasters such as outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis and bush fires that are often prevalent in the dry season.
He said there is the urgent need for all to be educated on disasters in order that precautionary and preventive measures can be taken when pending disasters are known.
In a speech read for the Upper East Regional health director Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams, it came to light that for the past three years, road accidents ranked high among the top ten causes of hospital attendance and admissions.
The speech also revealed that Upper East is prone to flood related disasters annually and also has high risk of disease outbreak. For instance, the 2008 HIV/AIDS sentinel survey indicated that the region had a prevalence rate of two per cent as compared to the national prevalence rate of 1.7%. The survey further showed that Navrongo area had the highest prevalence rate in the region pegged at 2.8 per cent.
The regional director also noted that since 2006 diarrhoea cases have continued to rise from 7,910 to 15,000 in 2008. The figure rose to 9,688 as at the end of June 2009.
The Regional Director of National Disaster Management Organisation [ NADMO], Mr. Patrick Abakaki in a speech read for him, said one of NADMO’s responsibilities is to co-ordinate disaster management activities with all other stakeholders. For instance, collaborating with Action Aid Ghana, disaster risk reduction clubs have been formed in five schools each from the Garu-Tempane, Bawku West and Builsa districts.
The NADMO director entreated all to learn common disaster control methods so as to be able to tackle disasters effectively. He also urged people to listen to radio regularly since most pieces of information relating to disasters are often broadcast through that medium.
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD – BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
A programmes manager of Action Aid Ghana, Mr. Michael Lumor has stated that even though disasters bring pain and hardships, they also bring along with them opportunities for people affected to think together and take collective decisions to lesson the negative impact of disasters on them.
The programmes manager who made the statement at this year’s celebration of international disaster risk reduction day further stated that the celebration affords stakeholders the opportunity to identify the root causes of the negative effects of disasters in order to deal will them effectively.
Mr. Lumor noted that the theme for this year’s celebration "Hospital safe from disaster" throws a challenge to government and its institutions to fortify the physical infrastructure of health facilities at the regional and district levels so that victims of disasters will be given the needed medical attention and secured custody at the health facilities in times of disasters.
He hinted that as from next year celebrations, stakeholders will be made to give account of their works done towards reducing disasters in their areas.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Honourable Mark Owen Woyongo in a keynote address said the international day for disaster risk reduction was instituted by the United Nations in 1989 and is being celebrated each year to raise general awareness about the need to reduce disasters.
The regional minister observed that the floods that hit the region in 2007 caused extensive loss to property and several losses of hives. He said a good number of people in the region are yet to recover fully from the destruction brought by those floods.
Honourable Woyongo noted that it was the prompt intervention of government and development partners that gave relief to victims at the time, and thanked Action Aid Ghana in particular for its continuous support to government in fighting disasters.
He disclosed that poverty alleviation in the three northern regions has engaged the attention of the Atta Mills government since it assumed office and added that government will leave no stone unturned until the desired results are achieved.
Honourable Woyongo expressed relief that the rainy season will soon be over with its attendant floods but was again worried about other forms of disasters such as outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis and bush fires that are often prevalent in the dry season.
He said there is the urgent need for all to be educated on disasters in order that precautionary and preventive measures can be taken when pending disasters are known.
In a speech read for the Upper East Regional health director Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams, it came to light that for the past three years, road accidents ranked high among the top ten causes of hospital attendance and admissions.
The speech also revealed that Upper East is prone to flood related disasters annually and also has high risk of disease outbreak. For instance, the 2008 HIV/AIDS sentinel survey indicated that the region had a prevalence rate of two per cent as compared to the national prevalence rate of 1.7%. The survey further showed that Navrongo area had the highest prevalence rate in the region pegged at 2.8 per cent.
The regional director also noted that since 2006 diarrhoea cases have continued to rise from 7,910 to 15,000 in 2008. The figure rose to 9,688 as at the end of June 2009.
The Regional Director of National Disaster Management Organisation [ NADMO], Mr. Patrick Abakaki in a speech read for him, said one of NADMO’s responsibilities is to co-ordinate disaster management activities with all other stakeholders. For instance, collaborating with Action Aid Ghana, disaster risk reduction clubs have been formed in five schools each from the Garu-Tempane, Bawku West and Builsa districts.
The NADMO director entreated all to learn common disaster control methods so as to be able to tackle disasters effectively. He also urged people to listen to radio regularly since most pieces of information relating to disasters are often broadcast through that medium.
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