Nine additional nationals are now certified to conduct training in Shelter and Shelter Management, as well as Initial Damage Assessment, following the successful completion of a five-day Training for Instructors course funded by the United States Government’s Regional Disaster Assistance Programme.

The “Hand Off Course,” held last week at the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), focused on equipping participants with the skills and methodologies required to effectively deliver disaster preparedness training within communities.

The sessions were facilitated by Disaster Management Training Facilitator Velda Joseph, with support from Disaster Risk Management Specialist Terry Morris, who has responsibility for Antigua and Barbuda.

Joseph described the training as highly successful, noting that all nine participants met the course requirements. She said the newly certified trainers will play a key role in strengthening national resilience by educating communities on preparedness and risk reduction.

“We are happy that all nine persons passed. Antigua and Barbuda now has a new group of trainers who can help spread the message about building resilience and being better prepared for disasters,” Joseph said. She added that wider community training is expected to reduce the overall impact of disasters and ease pressure on national response systems.

Participant Mellissa Chandler said the workshop was both demanding and rewarding. She praised the facilitators and fellow participants for their teamwork and engagement throughout the intensive programme, describing the experience as challenging but enjoyable.

Another participant, Tijahma Burns, said the course provided valuable insight into disaster operations and response. She noted that the various levels of training helped participants gain a deeper understanding of how to function effectively during disaster situations.

With their certification, the newly trained instructors are now eligible to support disaster preparedness efforts locally and regionally, including travelling to other countries to assist with building instructor teams and contributing to post-disaster response efforts.