Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 26, 2009 News
The 18th council meeting of Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) kicked off yesterday at Cara Lodge, Georgetown, with emphasis being placed on mainstreaming disaster management and climate change adaptation.
Representatives of member states of CDERA also discussed the issue of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu).
Coordinator of CDERA, Jeremy Collymore, told members of the media yesterday that the virus is more than a health issue that has not yet reached a crisis situation.
He said that the issue requires an engagement of the total risk management system of the participating states, as the region is building partnerships with international resource partners in order to build the nations response and prepare it if the pandemic level rises.
According to Collymore an emerging challenge is being faced.
He added that how the region manages the virus is important, because it needs to be done in such a way to avoid panic.
When asked about the protocol they are preparing and if it is similar to the one used for the “Bird Flu” pandemic, he noted that the Bird Flu pandemic was restricted to one sector, as the swine flu virus effects more than one sector.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that health officials must go beyond considering reports, as the year seems to be year filled with challenges, as he added that the pandemic will not last for a short time.
He however felt that the local officials had gone overboard.
CDERA was established in 1991 with member states; Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos.
The Agency is responsible for collecting and circulating reliable information on disasters affecting the region, establishing adequate disaster response capabilities among participating states, and mobilising coordinating disaster relief from government and non-governmental organizations for affected participating states.
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