adminGovernment will soon establish an emergency operations centre to coordinate disasters/outbreaks, a senior Health Ministry official has said.
Opening a national training of trainers in emergency preparedness and response workshop in Harare yesterday, the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Welfare, Dr Gerald Gwinji said a national rapid response team would be attached to the EOC and a dedicated budget will be allocated towards the initiative.
“I would like to assure you of our determination to develop a solid national emergency preparedness and response system at all level with strong national coordination.
“This will assist rapid response, and to this end an emergency operations centre has been planned for the ministry headquarters,” Dr Gwinji said.
Dr Gwinji said with control of most disease outbreaks established, there is need to make sure that everyone in the health sector is well informed of their roles and responsibilities during emergencies.
Head of Virology at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Ms Barbra Bhebhe, said the initiative would help rid Zimbabwe of cholera and other hazards.
Health professionals, veterinary health officers, uniformed forces’ health officers and representatives of the World Health Organisation are participating in the fiveday training workshop.
Its main objectives include ensuring increased awareness to understand risk, vulnerability and disaster reduction, promoting commitment by Government to risk reduction and ensuring increased research on causes of disasters.
Last year the national Cholera Command and Control Centre trained response teams for 16 districts and the remaining ones are set to also benefit this year.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu