Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet said that early preparedness should be the first condition in for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and many disasters could be prevented if early preparedness activities are implemented robustly. Minister Basnet said that that early preparedness could also reduce the damages incurred from the disasters and facilitate in rescue operation if the early preparedness is effectively implemented.
At a programme organized on disaster management in Singha Durbar on Sunday, Basnet shared past experiences of not having adequate rescue tools and equipments in the past and, thus, spoke of the need to be be well equipped regarding those goods on time. “Let’s take this issue seriously and let’s get prepared to deal with epidemic and communicable diseases that could spread during the disasters,” urged the Minister. Furthermore, he assured that his Ministry was gearing up for early preparedness for DRR and had instructed the subordinate bodies for the same.
Stating that the COVID-19 pandemic had already hit hard Nepal, he argued, it had also showed that the country would suffer fewer damages from the pandemic if precautionary measures were observed timely. Moreover, Minister Basnet pointed out the need to transport those DRR related goods and services prior to the disasters that could not be immediately transported during the disasters. He also called for arranging minimum necessities needed in the time of disasters and shared that circulars were sent to concerned agencies in the districts.
