The deputy minister of urban and rural development, Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele says it’s imperative that local authorities hire trained firefighters who can respond to emergency situations efficiently.
Nawases-Taeyele made this call on Thursday during the commemoration of the International Firefighters Day in Katima Mulilo.
Firefighters from all local authorities in the country came together for a simulation exercise at the Katima Mulilo open market aimed at testing emergency response readiness and also hosted a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Nawases-Taeyele said that it’s concerning how some local authorities do not employ permanent firefighters, leading to emergency vehicles operated by untrained personnel and with no proper care for these assets.
“The firefighting equipment is being used for unintended purposes, and in some cases these valuable pieces of equipment are exposed to prolonged burning by the sun and other extreme weather conditions, which is detrimental to the equipment’s life span. I, therefore, urge you as local leaders and firefighters alike to make sure that those government properties are handled and managed properly, with utmost care, and that they are in the hands of well-trained personnel,” she said.
The Namibia Emergency Services Institute president Frederika Shigwedha said firefighters are faced with numerous challenges such as inadequate and outdated equipment, limited training opportunities, and a shortage of trained personnel.
“There’s also an increase in natural and man-made accidents all over the country. Therefore, the nation should go beyond simply reacting to disasters and place greater emphasis on preparedness and capacity building,” she said.
Mariental municipality chief fire officer Dirk Cloete said that as much as they are brave and committed to the firefighting cause, they cannot continue to operate with inadequate equipment.
“There is also a need for our mental health to be made a priority as firefighters,” he said.
