The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) through its Strengthening Emergency Response in Bangladesh (SERB) program conducted a three-day HOPE training in Rangamati- a hill district in Chittagong, Bangladesh from 23 – 25 October 2021. The training was organized in partnership with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicines (NIPSOM) supported by USAID-BHA.
The training was conducted with the focus to develop the capacity of the hospital disaster management committee members and hospital managers to manage mass casualty events. The SERB program supported by USAID BHA aims at reducing the impact of disasters through institutionalizing emergency preparedness in Bangladesh.
HOPE in Rangamati
Rangamati is highly prone to landslides, due to heavy rainfall, deforestation, and weak soil structure. The lack of an emergency management system in the region multiplies the effect of disasters. The HOPE training in Rangamati is part of building a robust emergency management system through first responder training.
24 participants from the four Upazila level Health Complex (UHC) along with 04 instructors and the ADPC team took part in the training. UHC is the first referral health facility at the primary level of the health care delivery system in Bangladesh and the Government provides healthcare services to its rural people through these facilities. Training the medical personnel of the UHCs will strengthen its capabilities to manage mass casualty events.
The training sessions were spread across three days of intensive lectures and hands-on exercises. The first day of training covered the basics of the HOPE course, pattern of injury, structural and non-structural components of hospitals, triage, etc.
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – February 27, 2024
In a significant stride towards enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities in Laos, the Lao Disaster Preparedness Partnership (LDPP) convened a co-creation workshop to develop its action plan under the Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP) Phase 3 framework. The workshop, held on February 27, 2024, in Vientiane, brought together Representatives from the LDPP partners, including the government (DSW), the Civil Society Network (LCCO), and the Private Sector (LNCCI), the representatives from the APP Secretariat of the ADPC and technical experts, with the focus on the participatory approach of formulating the key priority interventions undertaken by the LDPP under APP phase 3 through consultations between the key stakeholders.
The Key Objectives of the co-creation workshop were:
- To re-orient the LDPP partners on the framework of the APP Phase 3;
- To identify the critical priority interventions for the LDPP for strengthening the interface at the national and sub-national (provincial or district level) for preparedness in a participatory manner;
- To identify the operational modality of the implementation and the next steps for the development of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Through the APP+ approach and support from USAID/BHA, the project ‘Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation for Emergency Preparedness for Response in Southeast Asia’ mobilized critical partners in Lao PDR, resulting in the establishment of LDPP in 2023, LDPP emerged as the seventh member country of the Asian Preparedness Partnership during the 8th APP Regional Steering Committee (APPRSC) Meeting in Manila, Philippines. Comprising the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MoLSW), the CSO network of the Lao Civil Society Coordination Office (LCCC), and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), The LDPP partners got to co-create and develop its action plan to consolidate the multi-stakeholder partnership and strengthen the locally-led preparedness and response actions at the national and sub-national levels, with technical support from ADPC.
The workshop began with opening address by Mr. Kindavong Luangrath, Deputy Director General of the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MoLSW), Mrs. Shalini Kanwar, Program Lead, Localization, ADPC, provided an overview of the workshop’s agenda and objectives.
Photo 1: Group Photo of the Participants
The morning session unfolded with an introduction to the Asian Preparedness Partnership Phase 3 (APP3), offering insights into the program’s objectives and scope. A presentation on the National Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021-2030, focusing on key components relevant to preparedness for response involving government, CSOs, and the private sector, ensued. Mr. Thanongdeth Insixiengmay, the DRR expert, spearheaded this informative session.
Discussions were conducted on proposed activities for institutionalizing partnerships and multi-sector cooperation mechanisms. The partners worked together intensively to plan critical interventions for the institutionalization of the LDPP and joint actions for preparedness and response, locally-led national dialogs, and South-South learning and knowledge exchange.
Photo 2: LDPP Partners engaged in a discussion for participatory planning
The post-lunch session was dedicated to facilitated discussions on proposed activities at the sub-national level at the selected target provinces or districts, integrating community engagement and inclusive approaches. This session included selecting the sub-thematic areas and related interventions for strengthening the local capacities and community resilience. The participatory discussions between the stakeholders led to the development of the draft activity plan with delineated responsibilities.
The LDPP partners further deliberated on the implementation and operational modalities, MOU development, and a timeline for the following steps for implementation. The workshop culminated with closing remarks by Mr. Kindavong Luangrath, Deputy Director General of DSW, MoLSW, underscoring the significance of collective efforts in fortifying disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in Laos and strengthening the LDPP as a vital national platform.
Photo 3: Closing remarks by Mr. Kindavong Laungrath
The training ended with remarks from the Civil Surgeon of Rangamati- Dr. Nitish Chakma, who acknowledged, “This training has been a great learning experience for all the participants, I would personally thank all the instructors and ADPC team for this training.”
