I remember in 2012, when fires swept through the Nairobi slums of Kibera and Mathare reportedly destroying up to 600 homes. In a matter of hours thousands of people had lost their homes and possessions just like that.That was one painful moment.I remember telling myself that I'll one day come up with a solution. With the shocking statistics that accompanies slum fires rising up,there is clearly an urgent need to discover innovative ways to adapt and to increase local-level engagement in hard-hit areas
In redesigning the current fire response mechanism,we first need to identify the challenges being experienced by the current response mechanism.After having the problems,we can now constitute a framework that will solve these challenges,then we proceed to delegating tasks and eventually monitor the framework.
We all know informal settlements are dense,tightly woven and prone.This structural arrangement at times gives challenges to the fire response mechanisms in place.The poor infrastructure too serves as a challenge to the current fire response mechanisms which results to massive time delay in reaching the affected area. There is little local community involvement and also inadequate emergency response mechanisms in households not forgetting poorly trained members in most of the households.For these reasons, to achieve worthwhile fire redesign, emphasis must lie on the development of community fire response stations.This will reduce the risk of slum fires by a thousand fold.
Developing a community Fire response station is KEY.I'll start by constituting the framework first before delegating tasks. In this community fire response station,I'll put a hierachy.At the top,there is the Leader.The leader is in charge of a given slum,followed by workers.These workers should be chosen with this criteria;1 representative from each 15 households,if there are 75 households that means only 5 representatives will be required in the framework.At the lower level,I'll create a feedback mechanism.with that I'll close the framework.
Now after designing the framework,I'll delegate tasks to fill the positions created in the framework.The leader will be elected based on the slum dwellers choice.The leader's designation will be to use sms interactive technology to involve the community.With this sms interactive technology,the leader can send bulk fire safety education texts to the whole community who can then choose to respond with question e.tc. Now the pro-bono workers will be chosen with the criteria above. The pro-bono workers must have the emergency response mechanisms of each households within their marked territory. With that filled,emphasis must Then again lie on emergency response mechanisms related to each household and appropriate training for members of that household.The pro-bono workers are tasked with ensuring each member of the households is equipped with the right training and also ensure the emergency response mechanism are effective.Its the responsibility of the pro-bono workers to report to the Leader.
In the event of fire in a territory ,members of the household can call their representatives who will access the affected area in no time .Communication is Key. The community fire response mechanism internal systems capable of fighting the fire, such as sprinklers, alarms and appropriate extinguishers should be adequate.
Fire hydrants should also be in vicinity.A sign should be placed near the hydrant informing the community members that no blocking structure should be placed near the fire hydrant.The fire hydrants can really come in handy when an emergency unfolds.
Last but not least,I will develop an effective feedback mechanism.As I mentioned earlier,an effective feedback mechanism in the framework is KEY.The community fire response mechanism will have a USSD that members of the community can give their feedback free of charge.The community Fire response mechanism can develop the USSD code by help of a telecommunications service provider.This code can include 2 or 3 questionnaires about the community fire response framework .let's say the code is *2355#,a slum dweller can initialize the code and answer the questions free of charge,and through this the community fire response team will obtain feedback.
I intend to further develop over the second phase of the challenge if selected in order to advance, develop and refine this idea :-).I would like to also be mentored by a telecommunication service provider on the part of developing a USSD code and also G4S Fire Services.
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