ODPEM seeking more community volunteers for Disaster Risk Management Programme

​The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is seeking to recruit more persons to serve as community volunteers for its National Disaster Risk Management Programme, which was launched recently.

ODPEM says as part of the programme, community volunteers will be trained in various emergency techniques that will enable them to act as first responders in the event of a disaster.

The areas of training include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, search and rescue as well as shelter management.

The agency says approximately 4,000 persons have already registered for the programme and that training for the first 150 volunteers will commence on Monday.

Director General of ODPEM, Major Clive Davis says the initiative is an important component of the national disaster preparedness framework.