Rescue services must be prepared

A POSSIBLE disaster is staring us in the face if priority is not given to adequately equip and prepare the PNG Fire Service.
While we follow news on the raging bushfire in Australia, reality hits on the current status of this entity.
Since September, close to 3,000 firefighters have been out every day in New South Wales battling blazes the size of small European countries.
The National has been highlighting this issue with information from the PNG Service for over two years and a visit back to the list remains unchecked.
In other countries, the fire service is given priority because of the important duty they do to save lives and properties.
They are provided the most modern facilities which are progressively upgraded.
Not in PNG. One cannot be blamed for assuming that we place little value on lives and properties.
Of late, PNG has been hosting international meets and we are responsible for the safety of our guests especially inside hotels and buildings in the cities and towns.
Right now, trying to put out a fire in a high-rise building, or attempting to save people trapped in the top floors during an earthquake, or evacuating people during a terrorist attack, will require a huge effort on the part of our firefighters.
If this is going to be the struggle, one can only imagine if PNG is struck with bushfire.
The fire service, has been neglected for at least 40 years.
The lack of investment in fire safety is costing the country and its people much.
Of course, they will do whatever they can to save lives with the resources they have.
But they cannot minimise casualties that way, something that all good firefighters are trained and expected to do.
Yet, they watch every day, in Port Moresby for example, tall buildings sprouting up everywhere and forever changing the landscape in our urban jungles.
It is also time to get a Rescue Coordination Centre into execution.
The centre would have had the services as diverse as the Fire Services, PNG Defence Force, PNG Royal Constabulary, National Maritime Safety Authority, National Road Safety Authority, Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) and Health Services among others thrown together in times of accidents, disaster and national emergencies to search, rescue and save lives.
At best these services exist in name only however lacking skilled manpower, essential equipment, and funds to carry out their fiduciary and humanitarian duties.
The coordination centre should also provide support to medical emergencies, maritime accident, bomb and security alerts on aircraft, tsunami and earthquakes and even search areas on request from land and water police.
Time and again bad accidents happening in-country have not been responded to by any competent or equipped party in the country.
It is common knowledge that PNG is prone to natural disasters, earthquakes, drought, flooding and volcanic eruption which are inevitable.
Search and rescue, evacuation and other emergency procedures should be drummed out to the public in massive awareness campaigns all year long.
PNG needs an actionable coordination center catering for all accidents is more beneficial than merely covering one sector.
And it would be from this centre, resources will be drawn from to support situations like in Australia.
The whole issue requires a holistic approach.
It is not too late to seek support from other Apec countries.
PNG could adopt aspects from these economies and tailor to suit the countries setting.