The Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) will be more equipped to respond to emergencies after receiving a donation of equipment from the Lions Club of Seychelles (LCS).

The equipment worth R152,000 comprises chemical suits including gloves, boots and face mask, 
detectors (multi-gas, ammonia, and chlorine).

 

Those pieces of equipment will equip the SFRSA to effectively respond to incidents involving hazardous materials or substances.

The items were handed over during a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at the SFRSA headquarters, Latanier Road in the presence of the Minister for Home Affairs Mitcy Larue, the chief officer of the SFRSA Andre Morel, UNDP representatives, staff from SFRSA and LCS members.

Mr Morel accepted the donation from LCS representative Dr P. Murugaiyan, who stated that the equipment will boost the efficiency of SFRSA in dealing with emergencies.

 Dr Murugaiyan noted that the LCS had embarked on a project on persistent organic pollutants funded by the Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).  As part of the project, LCS wanted to donate those pieces of equipment to better equip our firemen and women who work in such dangerous conditions.

He said the equipment will prevent the fire-fighters from inhaling dangerous gases.

“These gas masks are specially designed to prevent the fire-fighters from inhaling dangerous gases while on duty, and to protect them while handling such substances. Both LCS and GEF wish that these pieces of equipment would meet the requirements of the SFRSA and be put to good use in times of need,” he said.

SFRSA spokesperson Jones Madeleine thanked LCS for such wonderful donation.

“These pieces of equipment are more specialised in the chemical department, it will help us a lot to deliver a much better service to the community. We had those equipment, but they were getting old, so thanks to LCS we are much better prepared to serve the community to the best of our ability,” he said.

In line with its project to control the release of organic pollutants, LCS linked its activities with three key national agencies that handle and deal with matters relating to chemicals, namely the Public utilities Corporation (PUC), Customs Division (at port entry) and the SFRSA.

The total grant award for this project was US $50,000.