National Health-Oriented Hazard Assessment in Iran Based on the First Priority for Action in Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

Abstract

Background. Understanding disaster risk is the first priority for action based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR), and hazard assessment is the first step in the assessment of disaster risks. Therefore, assessing health-oriented hazards is the first measure in disaster risk assessment in the medical universities area in Iran. This article introduces a national experience and results obtained from designing a national tool for defining and assessment of health-oriented hazards in Iran. Methods. In the present study, a National Health-Oriented Hazard Assessment tool (NHHAT) was developed by experts and implemented by the Iranian Ministry of Health for gathering data according to frequency, probability, magnitude, and vulnerability of the hazards to identify the first ten hazards of medical universities in the two decades ago (2000–2021). Finally, the top 20 health-oriented hazards were identified among the ten hazards reported by each university. Results. According to the findings, the four most important hazards were road traffic accidents, earthquakes, drought, and seasonal floods. Nevertheless, the hazards such as desertification, tunnel events, soil liquefaction, mass population movement, and sea progression were among the rarest ones reported in the medical universities in Iran. Conclusion. Many functional aspects of disaster risk management depend on the realistic and accurate information related to the main elements of risk, especially the probable hazards in the communities. The comprehensive hazard assessment can only provide such information using context-bond tools. This is an applied study and a national implementation to fulfill the priority of the Sendai framework (i.e., understanding disasters risk) in Iran. It is suggested that other countries should also compile standard tools to explore the hazards for designing up-to-date hazard maps.

Evaluating the disaster preparedness of emergency medical services (EMS) facilities: a cross-sectional investigation in Iran

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“…In addition to the hazards identi ed in this study, EMS facilities were also exposed to other hazards that were less serious compared to the ve main hazards detailed above. Similarly, Khankeh et al (2021) (11) introduced a hazard assessment tool and identi ed the rst top 20 hazards rated by Iranian universities of medical sciences. They reported tra c accidents, earthquakes, droughts, oods, and epidemics to be the ve most serious health hazards.…”

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