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PDRF, New Zealand Embassy to enhance crisis response

By Lade Jean Kabagani

March 4, 2021, 5:46 pm

<p><strong>ANTI-CRISIS MENTORS.</strong> The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation mentorship program expects to develop communities that will support the response to the current pandemic. PDRF held a virtual orientation for the program on Thursday (March 4, 2021). <em>(PDRF file photo)</em></p>

ANTI-CRISIS MENTORS. The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation mentorship program expects to develop communities that will support the response to the current pandemic. PDRF held a virtual orientation for the program on Thursday (March 4, 2021). (PDRF file photo)

MANILA – The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) has launched a special mentorship program on public service continuity to help local healthcare workers reduce the delay in delivering life-saving services during disasters and other crises.

Through the "Kalinga para sa Kalusugan ng Komunidad” (Project K3), the PDRF on Thursday held a virtual orientation for the program.

The program will adopt a blended learning approach, combining self-paced online modules uploaded to PDRF’s e-learning platform, iADAPT, and will push for three webinar writing workshops.

PDRF said qualified facilitators on public service continuity planning will guide participants in drafting continuity plans.

Under the mentorship program, participants are expected to create public-private communities of practice and foster new health resilience champions who will both support the response to the current pandemic and prepare communities for future calamities.

New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell cited the need for public-private collaboration to respond to the crisis situation.

"Significant, unexpected, and hard to predict events are inevitable. Within this uncertain future environment, public service continuity planning is an important requirement for success," he said. "It is vital that we must build communities which not only survive but thrive despite adversity."

Department of Health (DOH) Director Dr. Gloria Balboa, also cited the need for adopting a whole-of-society and a whole-of-nation approach in crisis management, particularly amid the prevailing health crisis.

Key representatives from five cities in Metro Manila including Navotas, Pasig, Parañaque, Taguig, and Valenzuela, alongside seven hospitals (Philippine General Hospital, Ospital ng Makati, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Medical City, PNP General Hospital, Cotabato Sanitarium, and Diliman Doctors Hospital) will participate in a series of self-paced courses and webinars in the coming months.

Project K3 is an initiative of the PDRF and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Aid Program that targets to strengthen the health care capacities of local government units, health care institutions, and other local communities nationwide to respond to the public health crisis and other emerging needs amid the pandemic. (PNA)

 

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