Permanent Secretary NGOGA Aristarque opened and participated in the first session of a training on disaster risk management and fire drills for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Committees from MINEMA, Ministry of Environment, Rwanda Water Resources Board, National Land Authority, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Ministry of Youth and Arts, Meteo Rwanda, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda Military Hospital, Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Sports. Additional sessions targeting other government institutions are planned in the period ahead.

The training aims to strengthen institutional emergency preparedness and promote a culture of safety, disaster risk prevention, and emergency response in workplaces. Participants are being equipped with knowledge on emergency management frameworks, fire prevention, first response, evacuation procedures, and coordination with national and local emergency services.

A key feature of the program is practical fire drills and evacuation exercises, which allow participants to apply theoretical knowledge and assess real-time response readiness. The sessions also focus on improving coordination within institutions and with emergency services to ensure timely and effective action during incidents.

PS NGOGA Aristarque emphasized the importance of implementing the lessons learned. “Emergency preparedness must be embedded in our daily operations. I urge you to take these lessons back to your workplaces, strengthen safety plans, improve coordination, and regularly conduct drills to ensure readiness,” he said.

He added that effective preparedness, regular drills, and clear response plans are critical not only for safeguarding lives but also for protecting public assets and ensuring the continuity of public services. This training represents a major step in Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to build resilient workplaces across government institutions.