Rathindaung / Myanmar
Improving disaster preparedness capacities for vulnerable groups
- Especially the children have to learn the basic rules of hygiene.
On a regular basis, the region around Sittwe is hit by heavy storms during the monsoon period. Due to widespread poverty and lacking means for disaster preparedness so far, even small natural disasters can lead to severe impacts and damages on a local level. The people living in the area only have limited access to functional health services and sanitation facilities.
An outbreak of an epidemic following a natural disaster could therefore have dramatic consequences due to lacking response capacity of health care providers and problems in infrastructure, making it difficult to reach the affected areas. Thus, in addition to providing emergency relief after disasters, it is very important to involve local communities in concepts of disaster preparedness.
This is why, in 2006, Malteser International decided to start a project to prepare the communities in the area for eventual disaster situations. The population is involved in every step of the process, from the planning phase throughout the implementation.
To strengthen the capacities of the local communities for disaster preparedness and emergency relief
- Strengthen the community-based network of health care provision through training of community health workers and traditional birth attendants the areas of first-aid, disaster response, primary health care and delivery assistance in order to provide timely assistance in case of medical emergencies
- Support public health care provision through the construction of disaster proof rural health centres and related facilities and assurance of their full and constant operation ability
- Fight Malaria in the area through preventative and curative measures Implement health and hygiene education campaigns to raise awareness on appropriate measures for disease prevention following natural disasters
- Support the rehabilitation of drinking water ponds based on the preference of the target group
- Pilot and promote rain water harvesting to increase available water quantities
Promote drinking water treatment on household level outlining various choices to do so (e.g. boiling, filtering, chlorination) - Introduce Water Safety Plans to protect water sources, ensure smooth and easy supply and guarantee safe storage on household level
- Increase latrine coverage in the target area in line with the Millennium Development Goals to prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases following a natural disaster
Project data | |
Duration: | Since 2006 |
Financing: | German Federal Foreign Office (AA), Germany's Relief Coalition (ADH) |
Partner: | local communities and authorities |
Contact |
|
Malteser International: | Sandra Harlass |
| |
Media library
Survivor village residents also receive counseling and nutritional support. Photo: Eitan Simanor
more Photos
Esther Suchanek in Myanmar
