Georgetown, Guyana – (April 25, 2017) The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), with financial support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has developed an Evacuation Plan and Emergency Checklists for the Ministry of Social Protection’s institutions.
The plan and checklists were developed in the wake of a fire at the Children’s Drop-in Centre on July 8, 2016, which claimed the lives of two children.
The Mahaica Children’s Home was used as the pilot for development of the plan and checklists; however, these can be used, with minor adjustments, to suit the other care facilities registered with the Ministry. As part of the project, emergency equipment such as fire blankets, fire extinguishers, flashlights and first aid kits were purchased and handed over to the Mahaica Children’s Home and the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA).
Brigadier (retired) Jullian B. Lovell, the consultant on the project, met with representatives of the CPA and the Mahaica Children’s Home. He also conducted site visits to the Mahaica Children’s Home and held orientation sessions with representatives from the CPA, CDC, the Ministry and private care facilities registered with the Ministry.
This consultancy was another collaborative effort between the CDC, UNICEF and the Ministry, with the overall aim of enhancing disaster risk management (DRM) capacity within the Ministry.
Prior to this consultancy, UNICEF had financed the development of an Emergency Response Plan for the Ministry, which was also coordinated by the CDC.
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