Eight (8) Camp Managers for Western and Choiseul Provinces have successfully completed a three weeks intensive training and attachment program with the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), and the Camp Management Emergency Operations Centre (CMEOC) in Honiara from Monday 21st December 2020 to Thursday 7th January 2021.
Hosted jointly by the National Disaster Management Office, NDMO, and the Camp Management Sector Committee (CMSC) of the National Disaster Operations Committee (N-DOC), the “on the job” training is to give first-hand experience, skills and knowledge for the Camp Managers on how to manage Quarantine Stations and work along the partners and stakeholders working under the National Disaster Council (NDC) Operational Arrangement in the Solomon Islands Government COVID 19 operations especially in Western and Choiseul Provinces.
During the program, participants were able to cover SIG and Quarantine Protocols, Quarantine Station Management Arrangement, Specific Functions in Quarantine Stations, Quarantine Services provided such as the meals, types of kits, Infrastructure, Protection (inclusiveness and complains mechanisms), Services Providers, Rules and Protocols and Disasters Evacuation Plans.
The trainees were also able to attend and involve in the arrivals of repatriation flights, accommodation, admission of returnees and graduations at the Quarantine Stations.
Additionally, the trainees also work alongside the Warehouse and the Waste Management Teams.
Camp Manager for Noro Lodge QS, Niven Lingasasa described the attachment program as very successful.
“We have gain a lot of experience, knowledge and skills through our observations, involvement and hands on job with Camp Managers, Warehouse and Waste Management Teams in the Quarantine Stations.
“This is an important training as part of the Government readiness and preparedness on how to manage our Quarantine Stations once the Western Border is open,” said Lingasasa.
Lingasasa is confident that with the fair knowledge and practical skills gained from the training, he and his team are ready to carry on the task and face the challenges in the COVID 19 operations.
The attachment is an outcome of a training session held in Gizo for QS managers from Western and Choiseul Provinces in December 2021.
As part of COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts at the Western border region, it is critical that QS managers have hand-on experience with camp management functions under our national disaster management arrangements that have been utilised to implement quarantining of all persons that enter the country during the State of Public Emergency.
The training promotes close collaboration amongst the Provincial Disaster Operations Committee, P-DOC, and National Disaster Operations Committee, N-DOC, Sectors, build relationships amongst the sector agencies and provide an environment for shared learning in a real operational high pressure environment.
The modality of the programme is an innovation itself and is to be expanded to all natural disasters, and for all Provinces to get the best operators from the P-DOC Sectors to work alongside national operators on real disaster events.
The NEOC on the successful outcome of the training program is now working on expanding the program to three other Provinces in the coming weeks.
Media Release from National Disaster Council, NDC