CDRRMC adopts contingency plan on infectious diseases
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) chaired by Mayor Benjamin Magalong adopted the Summer Capital’s Contingency Plan on Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (EREID) during its 1st Quarter Meeting on February 18 presided by CDRRM Office head Antonette Anaban and Engr. Felipe Puzon, CDRRMO action officer and City Mayor’s Office chief of staff.
The city is currently battling the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and its variants.
Anaban said the plan was adopted by CDRRMC members with the agreement that suggestions given during the meeting will be incorporated into the plan which will then be presented to the city council for its approval.
The contingency plan aims to provide effective, efficient, timely, and well-coordinated response mechanisms during the occurrence of EREID and shall define the policies, logistics, and offices that will respond to EREID cases to ensure the continuity of essential public services, she said.
Its objectives include to limit the spread of EREID and contain the upsurge of admissions; prevent EREID related morbidity and mortality through proper case management; control EREID transmission to quickly recover from economic disruption; to have a centralized flow of official communication and feedback mechanism to address critical risk and event information to all communities; to implement a risk communication plan; proper coordination from affected individual to barangay to concerned agency.
Ensure the availability of resources with regular monitoring and evaluation; ensure immediate, orderly and fair distribution of relief supplies to affected communities and households; enter into official agreements with private partners; harmonize multi-level and multi-sector responses for a concerted and cross-cutting action during EREID occurrences; conduct training needs assessment and implement responsive capacity building programs, are the other objectives.
The plan also has response arrangements including activation, deactivation and inactivation protocols, Anaban said.
The city’s contingency plan on earthquake was formulated by CDRRMC members during a week-long seminar workshop conducted by the CDRRMO last year. – Gaby B. Keith
