By Juliet Mettle-Edmonds
Statistics from the World Health Organisation indicate that over 6.5 million people are confirmed to have died in less than 3 years of COVID-19, an order of magnitude larger than that of any recorded earthquake, drought, or hurricane.
At the National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO) headquarters in Accra, a 2022 World Disasters report has been launched. The report touched on three-point plans: trust, equity, and local Action.
The World Disasters Report, when adopted, will act as an agent of change as it will work towards a future where disasters no longer bring devastation but rather resilience, hope, and opportunity.
The 2022 World Disasters Report arrived at a crucial juncture in history as the world witnessed the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which tested countries resolve, stretched countries resources, and exposed the vulnerabilities in the system. In 2021, 378 disasters were recorded, excluding disease outbreaks; this was higher than the 20-year average of 337 disasters per year. Many countries had to respond to hazards like hurricanes and floods while also dealing with COVID-19.
The 2022 report emphasised trust, equity, and local Action: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for the next global crisis. However, countries are inadequately prepared for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and how to effectively tackle future public health emergencies. The report also replicates the recognition of the central role played by trust and equity in effective responses to Pandemics and disasters.
The Director General at NADMO, Mr. Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, said NADMO has always led and encouraged engagement, such as this forum, seeking to have constructive conversations around disaster preparedness.
‘Discussions such as this will enable citizens and policymakers to properly shape policies and resource allocation to meet disaster management needs, capacity requirements, and disaster risk knowledge gaps to increase total community and country resilience to disaster’.
“The objective of this report is intended to support and influence global conversations to ensure that the international community and national government make the effort to address policy and leg gaps that are making it difficult for disaster risk interventions.”
For his part, the President of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Mr. Kwame Gyimah Akwafo, said the document should not be read and forgotten but should be a call to action.
A panel discussion with Representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the University of Ghana School of Public Health, NADMO, and the Ministry of Health touched on how we can ensure epidemic and pandemic financial assistance reaches the most in need and how to work together to ensure that local actors and communities are not left out of current and future disease outbreak management efforts, among others.
The 2022 World Disasters Report was partially funded through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies COVID-19 response.