Survey to better identify needs of disabled to start soon |07 November 2013

A survey aimed at better identifying the needs of people living with disabilities in relation to disasters will start later this month.

The chairperson of the National Council for Disabled Persons Patricia Rene made the announcement on Tuesday during a training session for the council’s team of emergency coordinators which took place at the department of social affairs’ training room at Unity House.

A district from each region has been picked for the survey based on information and statistics of the 2010 census provided by the National Statistics Bureau and Mrs Rene said La Digue was chosen because it was badly struck by disaster earlier this year.

The six districts picked for the survey are Grand Anse Mahe, Au Cap, Anse Etoile, Plaisance, English River and La Digue.

 The survey, which is being organised by the National Council for Disabled Persons in collaboration with the Divisions of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) and the Ministry of Health, is being funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and it will be carried out by officials from the Ministry of Health who will be going around interviewing people living with disabilities in these districts.

The director general for the DRDM Paul Labaleine pointed out that those districts already have their own information about the vulnerable groups in their districts but the survey will provide more accurate and precise data which will better help the DRDM with its risk mapping exercise.

“If all goes well the survey is expected to be completed by the end of December and all the analysis done by February 2014,” Mrs Rene said.

Meanwhile, Mrs Rene said Tuesday’s training session for the council’s team of emergency coordinators has been initiated  as part of activities to mark the recent International Day for Risk and Disaster Management commemorated on October 13 and with this year’s theme being ‘Living with Disability and Disasters’.

“We the people who work with and take care of the disabled and most vulnerable groups of people we are really concerned if a disaster strikes. But following these training and disaster preparedness sessions we will be in a better position to know what to do to save these people if a disaster strikes,” said Mrs Rene.

She commended the DRDM, the Red Cross, the Fire and Rescue Service Agency for their commitment and eagerness to impart their knowledge and skills to the group of emergency coordinators so as to better equip and prepare them for any eventual disasters.

“Our hope is to come up with a disaster management plan for the North East Point area,” Mrs Rene said.

Mr Labaleine noted for his part that it is important to educate and inform people of disaster risks so they know what to do and help themselves when disaster strike and also how they can help save the lives of disabled and vulnerable groups.

“Such training sessions allow us to share our knowledge and skills and new aspects of disaster risk management which are essential in the event a disaster strikes,” he said.

Mr Labaleine pointed out that here in Seychelles we are lucky to have specialised people to take care of the needs of the disabled and vulnerable people when disaster strikes compared to other countries where these people are left to fend for themselves.

“Even though these people get help and support they should also know what they can do to help themselves and others,” he added, pointing out that the coordinators when better equipped will be able to better help these people in their communities.