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VERACRUZ, MEXICO CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION WITH WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Photo: State Government of Veracruz


  

Source: State Government of Veracruz

XALAPA, Veracruz, October 13, 2013 - This Sunday, the State Government, through the Secretariat for Civil Protection, celebrated the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction focused on "Living with Disabilities and Disasters" with workshops for children and youth with disabilities.

Accompanied by their parents or close family members, attendees joined the Civil Protection ABC workshop for people with disabilities, run by Miguel Angel Hernandez Correa, which aimed to raise awareness about the care needs of people with disabilities in emergency situations.
The Taking Care of One Another workshop, taught by teachers from the Special Education Department of the Ministry of Education of Veracruz (SEV) taught participants the basic sign language to communicate with deaf people in times of emergency.

The goal of the First Aid Workshop - conducted by the Medical Unit technician, Tomas Aquino – was to teach first aid to people with disabilities what to do in cases of wounds, burns, choking, airway clearance manoeuver and hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

During the event, the head of the Secretariat for Civil Protection, Noemi Guzman Lagunes, explained that Governor Javier Duarte de Ochoa has worked to establish a preventive policy for civil protection from the outset of his administration, which led Veracruz to respond to the United Nations call to join this celebration.

In 2011, Veracruz children accepted the proposal to partner with the UN to promote a culture of prevention and self-protection, and in 2012, the goal was to raise awareness of the work of women and girls in risk reduction efforts. "Today, October 13, 2013, we respond to the decision to create a civil protection policy to understand and address the needs and rights of people with disabilities," she said.

The public servant noted that more than 130 students from Veracruz special education, federal and state schools participated and responded to the disability survey conducted by the UN worldwide. "Their answers will definitely help to improve public policy". She noted that the workshops are scheduled to take place prior to and following this day, to empower people with and without disabilities to act properly in emergency and disaster situations.

Finally, she said that this celebration is held to focus attention not only on the rights and needs, but also the great ability and strength of people with different capacities.

Related links:
Secretariat for Civil Protection State Government of Veracruz