Sekondi, Oct. 8, GNA - Mr Kwesi Blay, Deputy Western Regional Minister, on Wednesday launched this year's Regional World Disaster Reduction Campaign at Sekondi. Speaking on the theme: "Hospitals Safe from Disasters" to mark the beginning of a weeklong campaign, he said, the aim was to raise awareness on the need to protect the lives of patients and health personnel.

He said there was the need to look at existing hospital structures and ascertain whether they were put up taking into consideration occurrences of natural disasters.

Mr Blay said: "Let us ask ourselves whether our hospitals as they are now can withstand any of these known natural hazards". According to him, asking such important questions would help put in place measures to protect the lives of workers. Mr Blay: "It is very important that we, therefore, take measures to sustain our hospitals so that they can function during and after emergencies".

Mr Kofi Yonkopa Arthur, Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), called for concerted efforts to create awareness about disaster awareness, prevention and mitigation. He said radio talk shows, visitations to selected hospitals and symposia have been planned to celebrate the week.