Agreement to boost resilience against disasters signed

Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Army Medical Corps (AMC) signed a memorandum of understanding to promote a culture of prevention, mitigation and enhanced coordination among key stakeholders involved in disaster risk management across the country.

The MoU was signed by chairman of the NDMA Lt-Gen Omar Mahmood Hayat and Surgeon General Lieutenant General Zahid Hamid.

The MoU specifically focuses on enhancing cooperation between the NDMA and AMC, including mutual support in the DRM-related initiatives.

The mutual cooperation under the MoU will ensure medical preparedness and response with nomination of focal persons, focused & enhanced knowledge sharing / management, including training to the Army Medical Corps and local medical teams where possible by the AMC, capacity building in health care through National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) in the sphere of training and Establishment of an institutionalized Disease Early Warning System incorporating the NIH.

Speaking on the occasion, the chairman of the NDMA said Pakistan had faced many recurrent disasters in the recent last and the cooperation of both the NDMA and AMC would further contribute to saving lives and communities in the country.

The surgeon general of the Army Medical Corps appreciated NDMA’s endeavours and assured full support of the AMC as and when required, thereby strengthening resilience of the community against disaster situations.