CDC/UNICEF hosts workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction and Persons Living With Disability

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Civil Defence Commission’s Volunteer Corps (CDC VC) and the National Commission on Disability (NCD) conducted a workshop on the Introduction to Disaster Risk Reduction and Persons Living with Disability (PLWD) on Monday at the Guyana Red Cross Building. UNICEF provided the financial support needed for the execution of this workshop.

Presentations were done by Major Kester R. Craig, Operations and Training Officer CDC; Captain Sean F. Welcome, Assistant Operations and Training Officer CDC; and Lloyden Layne of the CDC VC.

In his opening address Colonel Francis Abraham, Deputy Director General CDC, highlighted the importance of planning for and including PLWD and disability issues into the national Disaster Risk Reduction Framework. He declared that the CDC welcomes the opportunity to work with the National Commission on Disability towards building the capacity of PLWD in the aspect of DRR while making them more resilient to the consequences of potential hazard impact and disaster.

Twenty seven persons attended this workshop which is one of the activities on the CDCs’ calendar of activity in observance of International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) 2013. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Living with Disability and Disasters”. Planned activities also include the Observance of International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) and the launching of the In-school Art and Essay Competition on Friday, October 11, 2013 at 10:00 hours at Cara Lodge. Additionally, there will be a Community Registration Drive in the village of Klien Pouderoyen, WBD for PLWD on Sunday, October 13, 2013 from 10:00 hrs – 15:00hrs.