DCOA official calls for special provisions at hurricane shelters for older persons

Nigel Lawrence (left) at DCOA news conference

First Vice President of the Dominica Council on Ageing (DCOA), Nigel Lawrence, is proposing that special provisions should be made at hurricane shelters for older persons.

 “Can you imagine if another hurricane was to strike in our year of building resilience and resistance and in our quest for that we want to make sure if a person goes to a shelter, that the shelter do not only have a manager, we are going to start to ask that a shelter has some person with medical experience to administer care or whatever help to older persons,” Lawrence said during a recent DCOA news conference.

He suggested that the shelters should be equipped we some basic amount of medication, “not just plaster [bandage] but for older persons, there should be few things like oxygen…”

According to him, these are some of the things the DCOA would like to advocate more for on behalf of older persons.

Lawrence also pointed out that there are older persons who have talents.

The DCOA official explained that at present, there is a programme to plant 1 million trees in Dominica and it is unfortunate that the DCOA has not been approached.

“But we are going to approach the authorities to make sure that they make that available to us, because a lot of our older persons love planting; they love the outdoors; they love gardening and they can contribute in planting trees as well,” he remarked. “We are not trying to bash anybody but these are some of the places we need to advocate more…”

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4 Comments

  1. L power
    September 13, 2019

    The elderly should housed at the state house with Charles Savarin. I don’t think he is the only elderly person that should be there during a storm. equal rights.

  2. Joseph John
    September 12, 2019

    DCOA. The name of this organization should be improving the lives of the elderly or the sick who cannot manage self care. That means social welfare activities to care of senior citizens who are unable.
    In time of crisis line a hurricane these people are the most venerable. But advocating separate shelters is really far fetch. It should be that special areas should be designated in each shelter. It also mean that the organization should work with the social welfare officers to ensure that the elderly enjoy a comfortable quality of life.
    The Vice president slant is like a political challenge that belong on the campaign trail.

    • Psudado Alano-Sdod Maletek
      September 16, 2019

      Spoken like a true id10t, that’s scary thinking you are one of those seeking to advise the gov’t. No where in this sensible article was there a suggestion for separate shelters, dono what you been smoking. Read again.

  3. OpenMind
    September 12, 2019

    Completely agree.
    However, the shelters would need to be specifically dedicated as shelters, not other use buildings which are just strong enough to be used as shelters.

    Purposely built and designed shelters needs to be built with water, fuel storage. Generators, satellite phones, Ham radios and food storage with long life items. They should have a room emergency medical care, shower and changing rooms, disabled rooms.
    There should be air sleeping bags stored, children’s play room, kitchen facilities etc.

    Literally, they should be self maintained for a number of people for a minimum of 48/72 hours.

    And yes, each should have a doctor and police officers.

    I think once you get the building constructed, you can engage in the donor community, charities in DA and abroad to fill the shelter with the required items.

    You only need to start with one. But every town, large village should have one. Not all at once, as this cost. But start with one.

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