Students drilled in disaster management skills
Mzuzu City Council has engaged primary and secondary school learners in disaster risk management to help their communities minimise the risks associated with disasters.
Speaking on Monday at Katoto Primary School during the commemoration of this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the council’s disaster risk management chairperson Evans Katsilikiza Mwale said Mzuzu experiences disasters every rainy season.
He said: “This is why we decided to commemorate this event by involving students from primary and secondary schools, who are members of disaster risk management clubs, for them to help in reducing the impacts of these disasters.
“We want them to advise people who have constructed houses along river banks to move away and that people should clear water drainages for water to flow freely.”
Mwale said disasters cause physical and mental trauma to students, which affects learning outcomes.
Ministry of Education Northern Division inspector of basic education Doris Tembo called for stakeholders to train more teachers, learners and community members on how to mitigate the impact of disasters in the city.
Praise Binamu, a Standard Eight learner at Chibanja Primary School, said the disaster risk management club has helped learners to get insights into disaster risk reduction and preparedness measures.
“We are ready to share with our communities on what we can do to reduce the risk of disasters,” she said.
The commemoration, which was held under the theme ‘Fighting inequalities for a resilient future, was attended by learners from Katoto, Chiputula and Chibavi primary schools as well as Zolo Zolo Community Day Secondary School.
