RDMCOE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

This is a great day to all of us assembled here. It is even greater to the people of the Republic of Kenya, the Center and the Golden Spear countries, to be privileged to have you in the region for this occasion and as guests in our homes and tourist destination. I, on behalf of all Kenyans and the Region, take this opportunity to welcome you to the hospitality and generosity of our great land. I am Shem Amadi, the Director and Regional Advisor of RDMCOE, an institution and mechanism for disaster preparedness and response for 11 African Countries. Looking back, It is very encouraging that USA-AFRICOM has taken the lead to map out strategies to address the gaps in disaster preparedness and response in the region by way of establishing capacity for PI (H1N1) which is a major disaster with adverse potentiality on global social, political and economic orientation if appropriate measures are not put in place. As you may be aware, USA-AFRICOM is in Africa as a friend and a partner whose objectives are geared on social and economic development to advance humanity within the setting of civilised community of the world.

It is a reality that Africa is afflicted with all forms of calamities which overstretch the capacity and intents of municipal systems and it is worrisome that if Pandemic Influenza falls in the region, then its impact on local systems, which are already fragile, will be a disastrous. It is fresh in all our minds that the effect of HIV/AIDS already have negated achievements accruing in the society and Governments in Sub Saharan Africa therefore another disaster like PI will paralyse the society and its municipal settings. It is imperative that planning and preparedness measures be impressed and harnessed at local, national, regional and International level for sustainability and advancement.

We are proud to host this workshop which will lay the most important step of formulating an outline concept and plan which can be used in any environment to reverse effects of disasters to humanity in the region and beyond. We must consider ourselves extremely privileged to have a friend with a big heart like the United States of America who have found it befitting to invest in the workshop that brings together these great minds seated here to devise a toolkit to be applied before, during and after PI calamity. In this endeavour, RDMCOE is proud and privileged to have all of you at the Center and we believe that the five days on these grounds will not only be a learning experience but an avenue to find a lasting solution to the fears of the communities and also a forum for exchange of ideas and opinions.

The efforts of United Nations for attending to human security is commendable and a driving force, the vision of African Union is inspirational while the role and interest and contribution of USA is exceptional and a great reward to the region. We need to impress these systems to reach the required level of preparedness and response. In concluding, let me wish you all a very pleasant stay in Kenya. I wish you a fruitful stay in the region and do find time to meet the people and visit our parks to discover the secrets that make Kenya the best destination in the world. Thanks and may God bless you all.

Ahsante na Karibu sana!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Director, RDMCOE- SHEM AMADI