Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir has said the probability of natural disasters is increasing every year and South Asia is the most vulnerable region on earth. He said this while speaking at the inaugural session of international seminar on "Human Disaster Management" held at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) today.
The seminar was organised by UHS Center for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), UK. The theme of the seminar was "Role of Academia and Media in Human Disaster Management." Dr Qadir said that the situation demanded a holistic approach to preempt, mitigate and manage a post disaster scenario. "The approach required commitment of the government to train human resource, he said.
According to him, the institutions such as UHS could play a crucial role in this regard. The government had incorporated disaster management in the curricula of schools and professional educational programmes, which would be taught from current academic session.
Director of Humanitarian Studies, LSTM Professor Timothy O' Dempsey said that humanitarian assistance had become a rapidly expanding, multi-billion dollar global industry with an estimated workforce of approximately 250,000 that impacted directly on the lives, livelihood, health and well-being of millions of the world's most vulnerable people.
Professor Dempsey said: "The key challenges in this complex issue of humanitarian professional development required collaboration between humanitarian organisations, academic institutions, other training providers, and, where appropriate, national and international professional accreditation and registration bodies."
Talking about recent dengue epidemic in Punjab, Professor Dempsey emphasised the need for effective early warning systems, disaster preparedness and contingency planning. He also highlighted the importance of education, capacity building and sustainable human resource development as the key to reducing vulnerability to disaster associated with climate change.
Chief of Staff, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), Brigadier Syed Wajid Raza stressed the need for sharing expertise and learning from past experiences. There should be scientific research and training in disaster management in which UHS must take a lead, he added.
Director General Punjab Emergency Services (Rescue 1122) Dr Rizwan Naseer said that every disaster was a wake-up call and an opportunity for the development. Dr Naseer said that Punjab Emergency Services were set up after realising the importance of a fully equipped, pro-active and fast disaster mitigation and response unit of trained men and women.
Vice chancellor UHS Professor Malik Hussain Mubbashar said that UHS and LSTM had signed an agreement to collaborate in devising joint strategies for promoting awareness, providing cheap and affordable preventive solution and encouraging indigenous research on tropical disease such as tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis, dengue, malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
He said that UHS in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK, would launch a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from this current year. Other speakers of the seminar included Dr Barry Munslow from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK, Munir Sheikh, Head Climatology Section, Global Change Impact Studies Centre, Islamabad, Farhan Shoaib, Policy Advisor PDMA, Dr Farooq Butt, President Disaster Relief by Irish and Pakistani, Ireland, Aine Fay, County Director, Concern World-wide, and Richard Lorenz, Country Programme Director, Red R, UK.
Speakers stressed the need for formal training and education in disaster management and humanitarian relief and also asked the media to play its role in educating the masses about natural disasters and the ways and means available to deal with them effectively.
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