The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), yesterday afternoon, met with members of the Private Sector to streamline collaboration to aid Guyana’s fight against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
At yesterday’s second virtual focused meeting, representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) shared details of several interventions they are currently executing or plan to roll out shortly, to aid in the national fight.
These include the donation of medical supplies to the Ministry of Public Health; mobilisation of sanitation supplies to aid cleaning of markets and public spaces, and the donation of care packages to vulnerable persons and those whose jobs may have been affected.
The NEOC was activated on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at a meeting held with partners from international and non-governmental organisations. The NEOC aims to ensure the highest level of collaboration among all stakeholders to further prevent the spread of the disease; enhance preparation and strengthen local response to this global pandemic.
The Private Sector officials expressed appreciation for the forum as it presented an opportunity for them to air their concerns about the possible impacts of COVID-19 on the national economy and exchange ideas about how to mitigate same. They also expressed a willingness to provide technical support to the working group aimed at addressing financial and economic recovery.
During the first virtual meeting representatives from the CDC, Ministry of Public Health Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Delegation of the European Union in Guyana, National Coordinating Coalition, Food for the Poor, Rotary Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) were present.
The aim of that engagement was to streamline plans to deal with the short and long term impacts of the virus on the population and all sectors of the country.
It was agreed by all present that a National Requirements List would be finalised and shared with all partners for action. The list would continuously be updated to ensure all stakeholders remain apprised of the most urgent needs and work collectively to address these in a timely manner.
The CDC will continue to function alongside the National COVID-19 Task Force and support the Ministry of Public Health with the coordination of the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) and logistics, resource and quarantine facilities management.
