The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) on Thursday held a ‘Pandemic Influenza Table Top Exercise’ to forge ways of fighting Swine Flu (H1N1) and other disasters in the country. The Director of NDMC, Commissioner of Police, Cyprian Gatete, said that despite lack of enough equipment, a better organized NDMC can deal with any disasters that could strike the country. “We want to look for ways of sensitizing and organizing nationals in dealing with the Influenza and how to respond in case any other disaster strikes,” Gatete said. Thierry Nyatanyi, the in charge of H1N1 in the Ministry of Health, said that the influenza in the country is not dangerous and people can contain it if they can follow health instructions. “All those who were admitted for H1N1 across the country, only 10 percent of them were found with it while others were suffering from normal flu,” Nyatanyi said. NDMC faces several challenges that include lack of equipment, inadequate budget, lack of office facilities and qualified staff. Gatete said that there is still a shortage of equipment to deal with major disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The two–day workshop held at La Pallise Nyandungu organized by the NDMC and brought together stakeholders that include the military pandemic response team of the United States Africa Command. Others are United Nations agencies and local and international Non-Governmental Organisations. Ends
