Mr. Mohammad Naeem Yousuf, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, briefed the audience about the weeklong training and the impact it has created in the capacity development of the CDGK rescue team. The training included specialist modules on equipment handling, search and rescue strategies and techniques, base camp procedures, technical rope and safety management, casualty handling, food preparation, safety in dealing with structural collapse, risk assessments, victim evacuation, basic first aid and CPR.
A simulation exercise was undertaken by the participants at the end of the course which was attended by senior officials from the district government, army, civil defense, the Edhi Foundation as well as police and community representatives. Certificates were distributed to all the trainees for successfully completing the course.
FOCUS Pakistan’s Executive Officer Mr. Ghulam Panjwani commended the initiative of City District Government Karachi in starting search and rescue team. Given the frequency of natural and manmade disasters in Pakistan, this is a much needed capacity. He further stated that currently except for FOCUS, there is no other agency having such capacity in the region. FOCUS Pakistan has also recently conducted basic search and rescue training for Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Congratulating the participants, Chairman, FOCUS Pakistan, Amyn Dossa spoke of FOCUS’ core value of community capacity building and the benefit of such training in urban areas, in particular, promoting disaster preparedness in Karachi.
The chief guest, Mr. Masood Alam, EDO Municipal Services Karachi, acknowledged the newly acquired skills of trainees and the benefit of such skilled personnel within the city. He also appreciated the continuing contribution of FOCUS towards disaster preparedness in Pakistan over the last decade.
Mr. Ahtasham-Ud-Din, Chief Fire Officer, Col. Saleem, members of the Governance and Management of Focus Humanitarian Assistance, representatives of the media and Leap Frog Solutions were also present at the event.
Note:
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is a disaster risk management and crisis response agency established in Europe, North America and South and Central Asia. It helps vulnerable communities build resilience to natural and man-made disasters and compliments the provision of humanitarian relief principally in the developing world. FOCUS is an affiliate of Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions, for people of all faiths and origins, in specific regions of the developing world. For further information please visit http://www.akdn.org/focus
For further information, please contact:
Ghulam Panjwani
Executive Officer
Focus Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan
Telephone: +92 (0) 51 2294024; 2294051
Facsimile: +92 (0) 51 2294036
Email: ghulam.panjwani@focushumanitarian.org
Also at Business Recorder Pakistan
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