A total of 27 data collectors from different wards in the West Coast Region, have concluded a two-day data collection training at the regional governor’s office in Brikama.
Funded by Foni Ding Ding ChildFund affiliated Federation, the training was implemented by the WCR disaster coordinating office, targeting to strengthen the participants’ capacity for effective, efficient and reliable data collection on all forms of disaster.
Bakary K. Sanyang, Governor of West Coast Region said the training would help the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and partners to have access to timely and reliable data for swift response at all time. He advised participants to work closely with district chiefs, alkalolu and ward councilors for the interest of the communities they serve.
He thanked the regional disaster coordinating office for the initiative, while commending Foni Ding Ding Federation for the partnership. He also urged other NGO’s and community based organisations to emulate Foni Ding Ding Federation.
Binta Sey-Jadama, Regional disaster coordinator, told participants that disaster is a serious disruption on the functioning of a community or a society, causing widespread human, material, economic and environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
She said hazards are situation or phenomenon that has the ability to cause disruption or damage to people, properties and the environment.
Mrs. Sey-Jadama observed that women, children, older people, disabled people and people living with HIV/AIDS are the most frequent at risk when disasters occur, stressing that in certain contexts, people may also become vulnerable by reason of ethnic origin, religious or political affiliation and displacement.
Foni Ding Ding Federation sponsorship and programmes coordinator, Samba Keita, expressed his Federation’s resolve in partnering with the regional disaster coordinating office to build the capacity of data collectors.