The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in partnership with the Guraidhoo Council, has kicked off a two‑day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training programme in Guraidhoo, Kaafu Atoll.
Running from 12 to 13 August, the initiative brings together more than 30 participants representing the island council, local institutions, and various community sectors.
According to NDMA’s Emergency Operations Manager, Aishath Ifa Mohamed, the training is a cornerstone of the agency’s vision to have a certified CERT on every island.
“Today, we began the programme to train Community Emergency Response Teams as emergency first responders. This is vital training because not all islands in the Maldives have access to every service, making the Community Emergency Response Team the very first to respond during incidents in the Maldives. Our main objective is to form Community Emergency Response Teams across all islands in the country,” she told PSM News in an exclusive interview.
NDMA announced that work is already underway to roll out similar sessions to additional islands, supported by UNICEF. The CERT course forms a key component of the NDMA’s Community Resilience Building Program, which aims to strengthen local disaster readiness, enhance community awareness, and boost overall resilience at the grassroots level.