MANILA, 5 December 2018 – Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) from ASEAN Member States and Japan completed the Third Regional Collaboration Drill (RCD) hosted by the Philippines from 3-5 December 2018.
The drill was composed of table-top and field exercises utilising the scenario of an earthquake with a 7.2 magnitude in Metro Manila. The exercises were aimed at further familiarising, testing and improving the proposed ASEAN standard operating procedures and tools, and identifying future capacity building needs in the delivery of life-saving medical services for populations affected by disasters.
Dr. Francisco Duque, Secretary of the Department of Health – Philippines, at the opening of the drill, highlighted that the leadership of Philippines in preparing and hosting the RCD complemented the country’s commitment as a member of ASEAN in supporting regional collaboration in disaster preparedness and response including the refinement of EMT operations under the disaster health management priority of the ASEAN Health Ministers. He further added that the Philippines’ hosting of the drill was also in line with the Philippine health agenda called FOURmula One Plus, where responsiveness was a priority not only during normal times but especially in environmental health threats, hazards and disasters. It was also part of the observation of 6 December as the ‘National Health Emergency Preparedness Day’ in the Philippines.
Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council – Philippinesalso highlighted the importance of understanding regional cooperation mechanisms, particularly on how each sector was involved, and the requirements to jointly respond to the health aspects of disasters in the ASEAN.
The event is a component of the three-year project on strengthening ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management which is led by Thailand through the National Institute for Emergency Medicine and supported by Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The initiative also contributes to the implementation of the ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Disaster Health Management which articulates the ASEAN Health Cooperation’s inputs to the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN One Response: Responding to Disasters Inside and Outside the Region.
The event was followed by meetings of the Project Working Groups on Regional Collaboration Tools and on Capacity Development, as well as the Regional Coordination Committee, on 6 and 7 December, respectively, to further discuss the recommendations from the drill, and subsequently report to the ASEAN Health Cooperation for further consideration.
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Access images of the drill here
Access a teaser video on the Third Regional Collaboration Drill here.
Access to the video of the Second Regional Collaboration Drill here.
