(English captions by Trisha Paul, University of Michigan.)

Introduction to the disaster management training.

For some background, Universities in the Eastern
Africa Region have come together to implement

an initiative Health Emergency Management
Program (HEMP) that will build the capacity

of local governments in the region to manage
and plan for response to major disasters of

public health importance.

The Eastern African Region is prone to many
natural and technological disasters of different

kinds.

There is not one nation in the region that
is not vulnerable to the devastating effects

of these disasters.

Many of these disasters have a public health
significance either directly in the case of

epidemics of infectious diseases, or indirectly
as a result of the breakdown of infrastructure

associated with these disasters.

The purpose of this initiative therefore is
to increase the capacity of districts to plan

for response, mitigation and preparedness
for disasters, so as to reduce human suffering,

morbidity and mortality that often arise from
such incidents

What is the goal of this training? The goal
of this training is to strengthen capacity

for public health disaster planning and management
at district level.

The specific objectives of this training are: To
create awareness about public health emergencies,

to develop district disaster response management
plans for common emergencies and disasters

at district level, and to build capacity for
district officials to train lower levels in

disaster response management

What is our key output?

To produce a district level disaster response
plan.

How will we get there?

Day 1: We shall have a consensus on terms
and concepts of disasters and how disasters

affect the districts

Day 2: We shall discuss some common hazards
in our region and districts

Day 3: We shall look at some policies and
standards for disaster management

Day 4 and 5: We shall work in groups to produce
a District Disaster Management plan

Day 6: Presentation of the district plans

Thanks.