ISLAMABAD - In a bid to effectively cope with the emergency situation, the ICT administration has decided to establish three emergency response centres at different locations of the capital.
It was decided during a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amer Ahmed Ali and was attended by the representatives of CDMA (Capital Disaster Management Authority), NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority), and NHEPRN (National Health Emergency Preparedness).
The response centers will be established at Blue Area (Parking of Kalsoom International Hospital), Bharakau Rural Health Center and Taramri Chowk near Tarlai Revenue Center/BHU.
In each response centers there will be one operation room (working round the clock) at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office G-11/4 for supervising these centers and coordination among other allied departments. While overall monitoring of this project would be done at the Command Control Center at NDMA.
Toll Free Help Line will also be provided in Operation room at ICT Administration Headquarter and Command Control Center at NDMA for immediate relief and information sharing during disasters / emergencies.
These Centers will be equipped with human and material resources. Human resources will be providing by the ICT Administration along with the availability of premises for these centers whereas finances are being arranged by the NDMA from donors. NHEPRN will provide technical support in the shape of doctors, paramedics etc.
These Emergency Response Centers will be equipped with ambulances and fire brigades. Moreover, Mobile Clinic will also be provided to these Emergency Response Centers. These Mobile Clinics will be used for the provision of basic healthcare delivery, hygiene & nutrition in rural areas during peace / emergencies. These mobile units will cover nearest villages/rural areas for medical check-ups, lab tests, childhood immunization, referrals to tertiary care etc.
The decision was taken in the backdrop of recent happenings where lack of preparedness, slow response and ineffective coordination among various departments prevail during the crisis situation which further compounds the magnitude of damage.
Due to limited capacity of various departments to deal with the increasing number of emergencies such as accidents, buildings collapse, explosions, fires, hazardous material incidents and disasters.