The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre(DPPC) and MDRM Open Day 2018 was held on 19th April 2018 at UTM Kuala Lumpur in the presence of MJIIT management, DRM agencies, NGO’s and experts from Malaysia and Japan. This program was aimed to introduce the latest activities in training, research and other projects of DPPC amongst stakeholders involved in disaster risk management areas. This program also targeted prospective MDRM students by exposing them to the programme after its 2 years implementation. This program has divided into two session; morning sessions that focused on knowledge sharing session in DRM practices from Malaysia and Japan; and afternoon session that involved engagements with DRM volunteer groups.

The day kicked off with the opening address by MJIIT Dean, Prof. Dr. Ali Selamat followed by talks by Dr. Matsuura on “Role of Science and Technology for Disaster and Climate Change Resilience” and Prof. Dr. Shinji Egashira on “ICHARM’s Role in Supporting DRM Agencies and Experts Through Research and Training”. The program continued with talks and presentation by DPPC partners including, Prof. Dr. Kaoru Takara, Dean of Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability(GSAIS), Kyoto University ; Dr. Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid, MDRM lecturer from MERCY Malaysia; Dato’ Haji Zakaria Mohamad, DPPC Fellow and Scientific Expert Panel to NADMA and Dr. Rashdan Hj. Rahmat, MDRM alumni.

The program continued in the afternoon with engagement session with volunteer groups on capacity building needs for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. During this one-day program, a meet and greet session was held in parallel in which participants were able to get more information regarding to the DPPC activities and also MDRM programme from the faculty members and current students. Many participants had shown their interests with the research activities conducted by DPPC and also MDRM and CPT programmes organized by MJIIT.

For photos of this event, please visit HERE

MDRM Program visits MERCY Malaysia to understand the realities of disaster response and risk reduction from the field

On 16 March 2018, the MDRM program visited MERCY Malaysia as part of the MMJD 1293 Healthcare in Emergencies and Rehabilitation course work. This visit was organized by Dr. Aznah Nor Anuar, course coordinator and senior lecturer of MJIIT. MERCY Malaysia is one of the key players that have been active in the field of humanitarian support and disaster risk management, not only in Malaysia, but also globally. As so, the MDRM students were able to acquire hands-on knowledge on how DRM/DRR planning and actions are taken on the actual field. We would like to thank MERCY Malaysia for their continuous understanding and support to the MDRM program.

Lesson Learned:
• MERCY Malaysia is an international non-profit organisation focusing on providing medical relief, sustainable health-related development and risk reduction activities for vulnerable communities, in both crisis and non-crisis situation
• Building Resilient Communities (BRC) is MERCY Malaysia’s holistic approach towards disaster risk reduction by building the level of resiliency in communities which are vulnerable to disasters and hazards such as floods, earthquakes, typhoon and volcano eruptions through workshops, trainings hazard mapping, disaster simulations and action plan designing and implementations. It moves beyond the traditional disaster management approach of simply focusing on response, rehabilitation and rebuilding after a disaster event by involving the whole community which are: local government, communities, children and youth, health facilities and private sector
• Among the crucial DRR programmes conducted by MERCY Malaysia is the School Preparedness Programme. The programme is designed to raise awareness amongst students of the hazards they face and to help schools to minimise the risks posed by natural disasters, such as the seasonal floods in many parts of Malaysia, or earthquakes in China. Schoolchildren are taught simple, hands-on activities to prepare them to take responsibility for their own safety in the event of an emergency.Called the School Watching Workshop, the programme introduces a “Community-Based Hazard Mapping’’ tool to help school communities to identify hazards and risks in and around the schools and then devising solutions to make it a safer place.MERCY Malaysia also conducts Training of Trainers workshops with teachers and School Watching Workshops directly with students

For photos of this event, please visit HERE

MDRM Program visits Hospital Selayang to understand emergency preparedness in Malaysian hospitals.

On 16 March 2018, the Master of Disaster Risk Management (MDRM) program visited the Emergency Unit of Hospital Selayang as part of the MMJD 1293 Healthcare in Emergencies and Rehabilitation course work. This visit was organized by Dr. Aznah Nor Anuar, course coordinator and senior lecturer of MJIIT.The MDRM students will have an opportunity to visit a similar emergency hospital (DMAT) in Japan during their Japan Attachment Program, expected to be implemented at the end of July 2018.We would like to thank Datuk Dr Mohamed Alwi Hj Abdul Rahman, Head Emergency Department, Hospital Selayang Kepong, Senior Consultant Emergency Medicine and Disaster Management, and his colleagues for their support to the MDRM program.

Lesson Learned:
• Humanitarianism in health care embraces the idea of people administering humane treatment(s) to assist others in the safest and most cost effective manner(s).
• Humanitarianism drives people to save lives, alleviate suffering, and promote human dignity
• Humanitarianism in Medicine embraces the humanitarian aspects of all healthcare and healing paradigms, respects life and the premise to “do no harm, encourages treatments in “Traditional Medicine.”, emphasizes self-care and personal empowerment and promotes prevention and inexpensive, and most cost-effective, health care.

For photos of this event, please visit HERE

MDRM Program Attends 1-day Humanitarian Supply Chain Training at the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD)

On 20 March 2018, the Master of Disaster Risk Management (MDRM) program visited the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Shah Alam as part of the MMJD 1293 Healthcare in Emergencies and Rehabilitation course work. This visit was organized by Dr. Aznah Nor Anuar, course coordinator and senior lecturer of MJIIT and Ms. Azura binti Ibrahim, National Consultant of UNHRD.We would like to thank Ms. Azura and the UNHRD team for accepting the MDRM students for the training and sharing their rich experiences in humanitarian operation management.

Lesson Learned:
• The UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Kuala Lumpur supports in emergency preparedness and response in Asia. In addition to procuring, storing and rapidly dispatching items on behalf of humanitarian partners, it also hosts a variety of trainings that provide participants with first-hand, practical emergency response experience. The depot was built in 2012 and is generously made available by the Government of Malaysia.
• In addition to the depots’ warehousing facilities, UNHRD is pleased to provide a range of fully equipped training services and facilities across the Network where various humanitarian trainings can be held. Moreover, as part of WFP’s efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and disaster response, humanitarian organizations can also use UNHRD’s training facilities for scenario-based exercises and simulations to prepare local partners, government counterparts, contractors and WFP staff for the field.

For photos of this event, please visit HERE

A visit to Smart Selangor Command Centre (SSCC) was held on 17th January 2018 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Plaza Perangsang, Shah Alam. Twenty-five (25) participants including fives (5) lecturers and observer from Counter Measures & Mitigation Planning course’s, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT); and EBC-K Research Group’s, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur joined this trip to SSCC. This visit also is one of the program’s schedule for the course Control Measures and Mitigation Planning.

SSCC plays a big role in gathering and managing data of disaster in Selangor compound and disaster trans-state boundaries. All the data acquired will be taken into account for further action by the state government or National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). This academic visit was led by Dr Khamarrul Azahari Razak as a Course’s Coordinator were received an overview briefing about Selangor Disaster Management Unit (SDMU) that delivered by Mr Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yusof, Director of SDMU. The program was stated with introduction of the drone team or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Unit, and then deep brief on SSCC operations. The visit finish at 2.00 p.m

Below are some of the moments captured during the program. For more photos of the program please visit MJIIT Official Facebook Page.