By AMAWU Cletus Albert Amawu.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT: NIGERIAN RED CROSS COLLABORATE WITH C’RIVER STATE MINISTRY OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION, ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS ON EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Cross River Branch in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation converged Stakeholders on a 1-Day engagement meeting on disaster management with the theme:
“Importance of Collaboration for Effective Emergency Response” to strengthen partnership for effective emergency response in Cross River, held at the Red Cross Office, 1, Garden Street, Calabar.
Governor Bassey Edet Otu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba Esq., emphasizes the importance of disaster management as a collective responsibility involving various stakeholders, including government officials and some agencies, humanitarian organisations, and civil society.
According to him, disaster management is a collective responsibility, focusing on protection with a proactive approach to engaging government with a unified approach.
“Disaster management as a collective responsibility is a shared duty that requires collaboration among all sectors of society, with the primary goal to protect lives, property and the environment from disasters, through proactive measures, where emphasis is placed on the need for actions before, during and after disasters to effectively manage and mitigate their impacts.
“On this note, Stakeholders engagement becomes very important to discuss and ensure a coordinated response management plans in the event of disasters and this is why His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu administration is ever ready to lead efforts in disasters prevention and management. Hence, his “people first” policy.
“Therefore, effective disaster management necessitates a unified approach involving all stakeholders to safeguard communities. The Otu’s government is committed to fostering collaboration and proactive measures to minimize the risks and impacts of disasters,” he concluded.
Speaking earlier, the Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross, Cross River State, Dr. Valentine Eneji, who declared the 1-Day Stakeholders Engagement open, hinges his position on the Theme on; Continuous Learning and Collaboration; the role of the Red Cross; Intersectoral Collaboration; Challenges in Emergency Response; Community Engagement; Training and Capacity Building, and Call to Action.
“Knowledge acquisition is continual. Hence, continuous learning and collaboration is essential amongst professionals in disaster and emergency response. Expertise can become outdated, and new perspectives can lead to improved practices.
“And this is were the role of the Red Cross comes handy as a key player in emergency response, acting as first responders and providing essential data and support during disasters, hence, the need for collaboration with government agencies to enhance response efforts.
“Our position as Red Cross is the advocation of Intersectoral collaborative approach to disaster management, where various sectors come together to design programs and proposals that can be presented to the government for funding and support. And with this perspective, we can mitigate drastically on the challenges in emergency response services, such as lack of resources (e.g., fuel for fire services) which can hinder effect response during disasters.
“If we must get it right, community engagement is very important, i.e., grassroots knowledge which is local insights is crucial for effective planning and implementation of disaster relief efforts.
“I want to sincerely appeal to government agencies and organisations to invest in training and capacity buildings for basic life-saving skills and disaster prevention, which will significantly impact emergency outcomes; this is a call to action from the Red Cross, because it will enhance resilience, confidence and preparedness for emergencies.
“In conclusion there’s a need for adaptability, which is essential in the field of disaster response to keep up with evolving challenges and techniques, effective disaster management requires a collaborative approach that leverages the strengths and resources of various organisations and sectors; deploying Community-Centric Approach by understanding communities specific needs and challenges is vital for successful disaster response and recovery, providing training in first aid and disaster management can save lives and improve overall preparedness, partnership between agencies is simply the strategy and better resource allocation will do justice to disaster management for effective emergency response,” he said.
Other speakers positions also agree with that of His Excellency, Apostle Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu and the Red Cross Branch Chairman.
Dr. Helen Isamoh Egodo, the honourable Commissioner, Cross River State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation spoke on “the need for collaboration in driving effective emergency response in Cross River State,” summarized thus: reduce risks, build resilient communities and enable safer environment for all which is important in emergency response through collaboration to key into the mantra of His Excellency’s “people first.” She extended the felicitation of the Governor with his continuous season of sweetness. “As long as we live, we must attach safety measures, do everything possible to eschew all things that stand as obstacles to disaster; hence, everyone’s business.”
On her part, Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, Head of Operations, NEMA Uyo Operation Office, summarised, “Coordination and Integration in Disasters Management,” thus: “as an essential part of disaster management, as it promote efficiency and effective collaboration amongst Stakeholders, providing unified data gathering to avoid distortions, there’s a need for immediate set-up of disaster management Committee, providing uniform reporting standards which will facilitate prompt decision making and presentation to donors and formulation of a contingency plan that will eventually synergise actors preparedness at operational level (Assessment Team),” he said.
The high point of the Stakeholders engagement meeting was the setting up of the State Disaster Committee (SDC) and immediate and inauguration by Mr. Umunmakwe James Ejike, representing NIMASA Port Office, Calabar.
The State Disaster Committee (SDC) membership includes:
1. Cross River State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
2. Cross River State Ministry of Health.
3. Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties.
4. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
5. State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
6. Nigeria Police Force.
7. NSCDC.
8. NIMASA.
9. Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS)
10. Ministry of Environment.
11. Fire Service.
12. Federal Road Safety Corps.
13. Nigeria Union of Journalists.
14. Emergency Communication Centre (ECC).
