UG now offers Introduction to Disaster Risk Management
─ designed for Volunteer Emergency Response Team (VERT) programme being offered by Civil Defence Commission
By Anara Khan
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, May 18, 2019
The University of Guyana has partnered with the Civil Defence Commission to offer a course of study in disaster risk management (DRM). The introduction to the Disaster Risk Management programme, launched earlier today, is part of the Volunteer Emergency Response Team (VERT) programme being offered by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).
The Introduction to DRM is expected to run over the course of seven weeks and will see participants trained in a number of areas.
CDC acting Projects Manager, Anita Wilson-Layne told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the course was specifically designed for the VERT programme. “What the course is going to give the participants is an introduction and an overview of Disaster Risk Management.”
She disclosed that he VERT participants will be exposed to key concepts of DRM as well as the scope and importance so they can be equipped with the necessary theoretical background needed for future components of the programme. Part of the course requirement would be to conduct field-based assessments. “They are going to be doing practical work in the use of drones as well as practical work in Geographic Information System (GIS) to see how they can use these technologies to do mapping and support disaster risk management,” Wilson-Layne disclosed.
The VERT programme, which was launched in March, will be executed over one year and will see volunteers being trained in several areas including Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis; Community Based Disaster Risk Management; First Aid Emergency Medical Response; Oil Spill Response, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Management among others.
Images: Anil Seelall.