2009-09-12
Indo-Japan Emergency Relief Training Program 2009, Manipal, India

Considering the scale and effects of recent disasters around the world, networking with other organizations has become essential for more timely and coherent assistance toward the victims. Academia plays a very important role in the humanitarian relief as well as in the outbreak response for infectious disease. It is also a very important role of academia to train and educate professionals for these functions. AMDA is fortunate to have six academic institutions as our present collaborating organizations.

With the ever rising number and expanding scope of natural disasters around the world the involved parties, Manipal University, Okayama University and AMDA, have recognized the need for more effectiveness and efficiency in the field of emergency Relief. As a result a four-day "Indo-Japan Emergency Relief Training Program 2009" took place from 26-29 August at Manipal University, India. It was co-sponsored by Manipal University and Okayama University in collaboration with AMDA.

The main objective of the session was to train and equip personnel engaging in future emergency relief activities with knowledge, skills and techniques so that they may serve the people in need in an effective manner.

The program was not only well represented by participants from various disciplines like Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, Pharmacy, Communication, and Management but also resourced by various institutions with wide areas of topics, such as:

• Disaster Management Scenario in Indian context by National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), New Delhi. Commitment for children during emergencies, Theory and good practices during rapid and extended assessment by UNICEF
• Application of spatial technology, topological, and demographic information for disaster management by Okayama University, Japan
• The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network(GOARN): 9 years of international collaboration for outbreak response and Cholera epidemic control in Zimbabwe 2009 by WHO-GOARN
• Psycho-social rehabilitation after disaster by National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro-Science (NIMHANS)
• Basic life support demonstration by Manipal University.
• On the field with AMDA by AMDA-Japan

The training program also brought AMDA and GOARN one step closer together for future collaboration between the two organizations. The inauguration ceremony of the conference had Mrs. Hemalatha, Udupi District commissioner, as the chief guest on the first day and concluded with a valedictory function with Dr. M.V. Kamath, a reputed journalist, as the chief guest on the last day. The joint effort by AMDA, Manipal University and Okayama University was congratulated by chief guests and other participants on its great success.

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