A specialist in public health and disaster emergencies, Prof Gordon Osagbemi, has recommended the establishment of emergency preparedness and response (EPR) committee in the country.
This, according to Osagbemi, will reduce Nigeria’s vulnerability to the consequences of disasters.
Osagbemi said this during the 182nd Inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) entitled: “Disasters and public health emergencies: Proper prior preparations prevent poor performance”.
The medical doctor, who teaches in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health of the university, said the “establishment of early warning systems would enhance evacuation of potential victims where this is appropriate and further alert the various response teams and relevant stakeholders on impending disaster or epidemic outbreak”.
He also recommended constant capacity building to boost local ability to manage disasters in the country, adding that “the activities should include training of disaster management personnel, community volunteers, members of local non-governmental organisations and other workers who are important in disasters management”.
He advised that international agencies intervening in disaster management should transfer knowledge and skills to locals so that there is no lacuna when they leave.
“International agencies and organisations should ensure that mechanisms and modalities are put in place for the sustenance of their activities after they have left the programme intervention areas,” he said.
Osagbemi urged the Federal Government to “take ownership of the various disaster management activities in the country in order to reduce ‘donor dependency syndrome.’
“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) should decentralise its activities and make its presence felt at the state, local government and community levels. The activities of NEMA should also encompass all aspects of disaster management, including disaster mapping, surveillance, preparation, response and mitigation and research,” he said.
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