TEHRAN –Reducing the risks posed by natural disasters and climate change requires national determination and collaborative plans, Alireza Raeisi, an official with the health ministry, has said.

The official stressed the significance of developing self-protection and community-based programs, IRNA reported. 

Concerning the significance of empowering the next generation for a resilient future, the theme of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) 2024 highlighted the role of education in protecting and empowering children for a disaster-free future.
  
To protect children from disasters, countries need to consider their vulnerabilities and requirements when developing national and local disaster risk reduction strategies. It is equally important to empower children and youth and provide them with the opportunity to contribute to disaster risk reduction. 

The official reminded that in the seventh national development plan (2023-2027), the issue of reducing risks caused by natural disasters and increasing the resilience of the society has been emphasized.

To mitigate and manage the risk of accidents and disasters, the government is required to cooperate with relevant organizations.  Adopting preventive measures and securing sustainable resources will boost the country’s preparedness and ability to address potential risks by natural hazards. 

According to the seventh national development plan, the government has to improve the resilience of hospitals,  healthcare facilities as well as medical emergency centers in the next five years. 

In this regard, one of the strategies of the health ministry, as a top priority, is to integrate the disaster and accident risk management program into the national health and treatment network system.

National risk reduction week

Disaster Risk Reduction Week kicked off on October 12 and concluded on Friday, October 18.

Educating children will empower them to protect themselves and share what they have learned with their families and communities. Hence, each day of the week focuses on a specific topic.

Saturday, October 12, ‘Empowering children and adolescents, and the role of schools in building resilience’

Sunday, October 13, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; the role of the family in building resilience’ 

Monday, October 14, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; community resilience’

Tuesday, October 15, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; the role of social media in promoting resilience’

Wednesday, October 16, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; the role of computer games in promoting resilience’

Thursday, October 17, ‘Empowering children and adolescents to adapt to climate change and protect the environment’  

Friday, October 18, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; promoting the culture of preventing accidents and disasters’

MT/MG