Asian Disaster Preparedness Center conducted a comprehensive disaster risk assessment at the Sylhet Shahid Shamsuddin District Hospital in mid-September as part of its initiative to strengthen the disaster resilience of hospitals in Bangladesh.

The risk assessment results were used to train the hospital’s management to develop emergency response processes to more effectively manage earthquakes or other emergencies. The hospital is now well equipped to determine risk factors, build the capacity of its personnel, and develop emergency response plans.

Twenty-five medical practitioners and representatives from the hospital’s different departments, including graduates from ADPC’s Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies and Hospital Incident Command Systems courses, participated in the training.

The assessment and training were part of the Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bangladesh. Under the program, ADPC and USAID aim to assist the government of Bangladesh in strengthening earthquake preparedness and response through the capacity building of emergency response agencies.

The Sylhet Shahid Shamsuddin District Hospital is one of sixteen hospitals that are being trained under the program.

Mr. Sajedul Hasan, Director, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, speaking to participants during the workshop.

Brigadier General Md Abdus Sabur Miah, Superintendent of the Sylhet Shahid Shamsuddin District Hospital, inaugurated the training emphasizing the importance of the hospital risk assessment.