Workshop on disaster management at Nkoranza

Nkoranza (B/A), Sept. 25, GNA - A three-day workshop on the importance of disaster management, organised by the Rural Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), for 75 disaster management volunteers from the Nkoranza, Kintampo and Wenchi districts in Brong-Ahafo has ended at Nkoranza.

Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) and Concern Universal, also an NGO and Partners in Disaster Management and European Union (EU) programme jointly sponsored the workshop.

The main topic for the programme was "Health as a disaster" and the participants held discussions on 'communal and household liquid and solid waste management' and 'the introduction to disaster prevention and management'.

Mr Kwame Gyedu Nuako, Nkoranza District Coordinating Director, in a closing address commended REEP for its efforts in educating the people on the dangers of disaster and also helping to check and manage it to save lives.

He expressed concern about human activities and practices that lead to the outbreak of disasters, citing bushfires, which cause great havoc to the environment as man-made and which could be controlled. Mr Nuako recalled boat disasters, which he said were often caused by overloading and said, "If we are very careful and do things accordingly, we would eliminate disasters and enjoy life as destined by nature". The Coordinating Director urged the participants to help in organising the people to manage and control disasters to enhance their development.

He advised opinion leaders to promote clean-up exercises and encourage tree planting to guard against diseases and rainstorms. Mr James Ohemeng, Project Coordinator, said REEP would arrange for sanitary equipment to enhance environmental sanitation in the communities. He said REEP provided 100 Wellington boots and 100 cutlasses to each of the districts last year to enable the volunteers to check bushfires. The co-ordinator commended the volunteers for their hard work and selfless services towards disaster management and called on opinion leaders to support them.