Incorporate disaster preparedness into school curricula

Special training programmes should also be organised regularly so that people can learn how to save themselves from different hazards like flood, fire and earthquake, they observed.

ActionAid Bangladesh organised the roundtable on 'Disaster preparedness: Education and health' at Spectra Convention Centre in the city.

Participants at the roundtable suggested providing first aid training among teachers, employees and students so that they can learn how to help disaster victims.

Ehsan Ul Fattah, secretary of health and family welfare ministry, said disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction programmes should be practiced from school.

"Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country but we are not prepared enough to face a big disaster. The issue of 'disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness' should be incorporated into formal school curriculum and non-formal education," he said while addressing the roundtable as the chief guest.

ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Shoaib Siddiqui said school-based disaster preparedness should be practiced regularly.

"Schoolchildren can learn about disasters through various educational materials like colouring books, posters and notebooks containing disaster preparedness messages," he said.

Rezaul Karim, training specialist of ActionAid Bangladesh, said building codes should be strictly followed specially at educational institutes, hospitals, garment factories and high-rise buildings.

"People would understand their duties during a big disaster if rehearsal-based awareness programme is launched," he said while presenting the keynote paper.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Shahjahan Biswas, Directorate of Primary Education Director General M Asaduzzaman and Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) Executive Director Kamrul Hassan Manju also spoke at the roundtable.