A sensitization workshop on disaster risk reduction
has just been concluded by a community organisation known as Kairu Suu
Federation, in collaboration with ChildFund The Gambia and the National
Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
Held at Jambanjelly in Kombo South District, the
training course involved board members, staff, field workers and senior management
team of Kaira Suu Federation, which is also working with five community
associations in Sanyang, Tujereng, Jambanjelly, Sifoe, and Tanji.
Although the training activity mainly covered
officials of Kairu Suu Federation, its essence borders on the whole nation
because issues of disaster risk reduction are issues of concern to all and
sundry in our society.
Every now and then we witness, hear and read
reports about one disaster or the other ranging from inferno to flood and other
human catastrophes.
This causes serious setback for direct victims of
disaster and their relatives, as well as members of the society. It as well
affects public and private coffers as salvaging measures are taken by both
government and private institutions to help out victims of disasters.
However, it is worth noting that prevention is
better than cure in trying to curb disasters in society, as rightly stated by
the regional manager of ChildFund The Gambia, one of the supporting
institutions of the training course.
“A butut spent in preventing disaster is better
than a dalasi spent in relief,” he stated.
He remarked that their approach at ChildFund is
putting more emphasis on how they could prevent disaster, saying rather than
spending on relief to help disaster victims, ChildFund places more emphasis on
prevention, mitigation and adaptation.
While giving relief after disaster strike is actually essential, it is more essential to help in preventing the occurring of disasters. So spending on training and aspects that are geared towards preventing disasters is quite in place and deserves more support to help in curbing the high rate of disaster occurrences we are experiencing in the country.
“Prevention is better than Cure”.
Anonymous
