Mr Olusoji Adeniyi, UNICEF Emergency Specialist, on Wednesday advised State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to always consider critical issues that save lives while preparing contingency plan for emergency preparedness and response.
Adeniyi gave the advice while presenting a paper at a workshop on Emergency Preparedness Response Training and Floods Preparedness on in Kaduna.
He said considering critical issues by the agencies would reduce human sufferings and death during emergency situations.
“SEMA needs to take into cognizance critical issues that save lives during contingency plan for emergency preparedness and response.
“The issue of contingency plan is beyond building materials because there is need for them to think of things like drugs and heathcare services to save lives.”
According to him, there is also the need for emergency management agencies to ensure that children’s education is not disrupted during emergency situations.
He called on the agencies to ensure adequate provision of food and access to healthcare services as well as come up with sensitization programmes that would ensure risk reduction during peace period.
“Even if there is no crisis, there is still some programmes to be conducted to reduce risk,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised to build the capacity of states in the north on flood and other disaster management.