This is an activity under USAID’s Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) project focused on enhancing capacity of hospital management staff and equipping the Fire Service and Civil Defense Authority with search and rescue materials. Hospital Risk Assessments will be conducted in twelve target hospitals in the cities of Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.

The workshop brought together thirty-two medical practitioners from various disciplines including persons trained under ADPCs courses Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies (HOPE) and Hospital Incident Command System (HICS). Practitioners and experts participated in the assessment process, which was conducted based on Hospital Safety Index, established by World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization. The results of the risk assessment will be endorsed by the Hospital authority.

The workshop was opened by Mr. Sajedul Hasan, Director at ADPC headquarters in Bangkok, who provided an overview of ADPC in the region and the SERB program in particular. This was followed by remarks from the Special Guest Dr. Alauddin Mazumder, Division Director of Health in Chittagong. Guest of Honor Professor Dr. Akhtarun Naher, Director of NIPSOM provided remarks on the importance of risk assessment. This was followed by a speech by the Chief Guest, Dr. Shah Nawaz, Additional Director General Admin of the Director General and Health Services (DGHS) reiterating the importance of increasing the government of Bangladesh and communities disaster management skills and earthquake resilience. He assured that the Department will incorporate the risk assessment and emergency response plan with into its current plans.

The ceremony was closed by a speech by the Chairperson, Brigadier General Dr. Khondakar Shahidul Ghani, Director, Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) who expressed gratitude to ADPC and USAID Bangladesh for the awareness raised on hospital risk assessments. The main objective of the workshop was to provide an understanding of hospital risk assessment and safety index, including how to operationalize an assessment by using the index. Other objectives include presenting activities and measures to improve hospital safety and learn about the process of developing emergency response plans (ERP) through risk assessment mechanisms. Dr. Pir Mohammad Paya, Senior Technical Specialist from ADPC headquarters facilitated the workshop.

For further information: contact Subarna Barma. subarna@adpc.net