ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Army Medical Corps (AMC) Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote a culture of prevention, mitigation and enhanced coordination among key stakeholders involved in disaster risk management (DRM) across the country.

The MoU was signed by Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Omar Mahmood Hayat and Surgeon General Lt General Zahid Hamid. The MoU specifically focuses on enhancing cooperation between the NDMA and AMC as well as mutual support in DRM related initiatives.

Mutual cooperation under the MoU will ensure medical preparedness and response with nomination of focal persons, focused and enhanced knowledge sharing/management. As per MoU, the AMC will provide necessary medical training to people associated with the NDMA and local medical teams, capacity building in health care through National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) in the sphere of training and establishment of an institutionalized disease early warning system incorporating NIH.

Speaking on the occasion, the NDMA chairman stated that Pakistan has faced many recurrent disasters in recent past and cooperation of both the NDMA and the AMC will further contribute in saving lives and communities in the country.