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More Community Emergency Response Teams needed

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Uggah (second right) presents a certificate of participation to one of the group leaders. Looking on are State Veterinary Services Department director Dr Adrian Susin (left) and Dr Chai.

SIBU: There is a need for more Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to be formed in the state. They will be the first responders on the ground in the event of emergencies or disasters while waiting for the arrival of professional groups, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

“There will be at least trained groups to decide, mobilise and co-ordinate the people.

“In the event of a flood, they can decide when the people should begin evacuating, especially the sick and the elderly,” he remarked when officiating at the closing of a four-day CERT course for 164 members of 24 CERT groups throughout the state at the Sibu YMCA Resort at Ulu Oya Road here, yesterday.

He said floods and longhouse fires were always a great challenge to the state, especially when they happened deep in the interior areas and in disaster prone areas.

Uggah (second right) presents a certificate of participation to one of the group leaders. Looking on are State Veterinary Services Department director Dr Adrian Susin (left) and Dr Chai.

“It is the government’s policy that there is zero loss of life in any disaster and minimal damage to property.

“With CERTs at every nook and corner of the state, we hope to be able to achieve this. As such we want to increase the number of CERTs soon.

“We now have 45 groups with over 7,192 volunteers who take great pride in serving their communities,” he stated.

Uggah, who is also the State Disaster Management Committee chairman, spoke at length on the role of CERT members to help fight the current rabies scourge.

“Please report any sightings of sick dogs or cats, advise your village folk to get their animals vaccinated, (and) adopt only vaccinated dogs.

“The most important thing is to tell the people how to treat all bite wounds properly. Wash immediately with soap and running water for between 10 and 15 minutes and then rush to your nearest health clinic or hospital,” he stressed.

He said such simple procedures have been proven to save lives. In his speech earlier, State Security and Enforcement Unit director Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung said plans were being made for the creation of more CERTs.

“We are identifying especially those settlements deep in the interior. CERT is a very useful and important body to be formed in such areas as the members can be the first responders to any disaster or emergency.

“We want to create a culture whereby our people are prepared to face any disaster,” he said.

Uggah also expressed his gratitude to Petronas for sponsoring the activity for the second time.

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