DOH-7 to institutionalize platform for emergency response

CEBU, Philippines — In time for the observance of National Disaster Resilience Month, the health department has introduced a program to boost its disaster response capabilities.

The program is called Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H), formerly the Help Emergency Response Plan (HER-Plan).

Department of Health in Central Visayas through its Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) seeks to integrate health aspect into DRRM.

Doctor Shelbay Blanco, DOH-7 HEMS cluster head, said the agency plans to institutionalize the disaster-control platform in every community.

Though a mechanism is already in place with the previous program, the DRRM-H provides a more improved approach and strategies, he said.

Blanco said one of the primary strategies is to form DRRM-H teams in every local government units through the respective DRRM offices.

Currently, DOH-7 is holding DRRM-H workshops participated by personnel from health offices, DRRM units, and other stakeholders.

Blanco, however, said DOH-7 does not only aim to capacitate the LGUs but also households by training them on basic life support, such as hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

He said the regional health personnel will be training disaster managers, who, in turn, will train household members.

Aside from creating local DRRM-H teams, he said, an operational center should also be established for planning, gathering of resources, and setting up communication networks, among others.

Both of these are seen to enhance the capabilities and competencies of every stakeholder, said Blanco.

He said the country is highly vulnerable to natural calamities so mitigating measures must be set up and intensified to casualties.

The month of July is declared as the National Disaster Consciousness Month by virtue of Executive Order 137 signed by former President Joseph Estrada in 1999. Later, it was renamed National Disaster Resilience Month-a shift from a mere awareness campaign to a more active disaster response at the community level. — KBQ (FREEMAN)