Gambia: Organization of Community Health and Rural Development members sensitized on DRR
The Lower River Regional Disaster Management Committee (LRR DMC) over the weekend organised a one-day sensitisation forum for members of the Organization of Community Health and Rural Development (OCHARD) on Disaster Risk Reduction (DDR), held at the Rural Development Institute (RDI) in Mansakonko, Jarra West District of LRR.
The aim of the training was to give participants wider knowledge on Disaster Risk Reduction in the country and to motivate greater participation in disaster reduction. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Alhaji Lamin Waa Juwara, the governor of LRR, acknowledged that disaster is a global phenomenon and can strike at any time; that the best way of dealing with disaster is to get prepared first before it strikes.
He commended The Gambia government under the leadership of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh for establishing the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), noting that the initiative is relevant and timely. Governor Juwara also expressed delight at the work of the NDMA, saying that their role and function is significant and felt throughout the region and the country at large.
He challenged the participants to take the training seriously and to disseminate the information gained.
Speaking earlier, Lamin Saidy, the coordinator of the Regional Disaster Management team in LRR, expressed their commitment to work with communities in order to mitigate disaster in the region. He explained that disaster is a cross-cutting issue, multi-faceted and multi-sectoral.
He then expressed appreciation to OCHARD for the request made to his office, stressing that the training is in line with the regional committee and NDMA’s 2011 Strategic Work Plan. Saidy also outlined the significance of the training, while emphasizing that it is very important as it is geared towards enlightening communities on Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as to encourage the communities to build a safer and resilient nation against disaster.
He finally urged participants to share the information gained from the training in their various work places and to the wider community.
For his part, Lamin A. Njie a tutor at Community Health nurse in Mansakonko revealed that OCHARD was formed in 2002 with an ultimate goal to develop a good working relationship between RDI and community health nurse students.
The organization, he said, deemed it necessary not only to build that relationship but also contribute towards national endeavors. He outlined their commitment and willingness to partner with the LRR Disaster Management Committee, saying: "We are ready to take up the challenge by involving ourselves more on DRR in our localities."
He also thanked the RDMC for accepting their request to fund the training, while assuring them that the information gained from the training would not only be filtered down to their colleagues but also to the communities at large. Ansu Fofana, vice principal of RDI also expressed similar sentiments.