The Health Emergency Operating Centre, located adjacent to the health ministry, will function as a centre for coordination, and communication of information and resources during disasters and other emergencies.
The health ministry inaugurated the centre today coinciding with the Birthday of Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen.
It has all the equipment essential for maintaining linkage between health sector and communities in times of disasters.
The Disaster Management Act 2013 mandates the establishment of the centre. “Since the acronym itself says communication center, we have all sorts of communication facilities including GPS system,” health ministry’s officiating Chief Programme Officer Wangchuk Dukpa, said.
“There are two telephone providers- Tashi and Bhutan Telecom. If these two agencies collapse, we have the satellite ready.”
The World Health Organization (WH0) also recommends the establishment of the Health Emergency Operating Center for delivery of public health functions and adequate response during emergencies.
The centre was set up at the cost of around Nu 7.10 m. It was funded by the WHO and the European Commission’s Preparedness Programme.
A training for the ministry of health staff on the usage of the equipment and a mock drill will be conducted later this month.
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