Innovations, knowledge sharing and technology driven rescue operations are crucial areas in disaster management.
The Ag Director of the FCT Emergency Management Department FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme stated this at the inaugural symposium of the International Association of Emergency Managers in Abuja.
Mrs Wenegieme informed the gathering that this was in line with international best practices.
She noted that in the past during the rainy season emergency responders prepared for either river or flash flooding but now we have to contend with building collapse, drought, and suicide attempts.
Mrs Wenegieme expressed hope that the symposium would come up with a methodology to handle these emerging challenges in the country.
The pioneer Director General of FEMA, Dr Abbas Garba said that disaster response was a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary and multi-agency issue.
He also said that multi-agency activities require networking to share information, expertise and resources.
In a paper entitled, “Communication, Coordination, Cooperation, and Collaboration: A Multi-Agency Approach for Effective/Efficient Disaster Management Across Africa,” Garba argued that understanding communication, coordination, cooperation and collaboration, would enable emergency managers work more effectively and efficiently in responding to disasters and minimizing the impact on communities across Africa.
