Assessment of drought resilience of hospitals in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional survey

Resumen

Background Drought is an extreme weather event. Drought-related health effects can increasedemands on hospitals while restricting their functional capacity. In July 2017, Sri Lanka had beenexperiencing prolonged drought for around a year and data on the resilience of hospitals wererequired.Methods A cross-sectional survey was done in five of the most drought-affected and vulnerabledistricts using two specially developed questionnaires. Ninety hospitals were assessed using theBaseline Hospital Drought Resilience Assessment (BHDRA) tool, of which 24 purposefully selectedhospitals were also assessed using the more detailed Comprehensive Hospital Drought ResilienceAssessment (CHDRA) tool and observation visits.Results Of the hospitals assessed, 73 and 77 reported having adequate supplies of drinking andnon-drinking water, respectively. Of the 24 hospitals studied using the CHDRA tool, bacteriologicalwater quality testing was done in 8, with samples from only 4 hospitals being satisfactory. Adequateelectricity supply was reported by 77 hospitals, of which 72 had at least one generator. None of thehospitals used rainwater or storm water harvesting, water recycling, or solar or wind power. Of the 24hospitals selected for detailed analysis, awareness materials on safeguarding water or electricity andavoiding wasting water or electricity were displayed in only 6 hospitals; disaster preparedness planswere available in 9; and drought was considered as a hazard only in 6.Conclusion The findings indicate that drought needs to be considered as an important hazard inhospital risk assessments. Drought preparedness, response and recovery should be embedded inhospital disaster preparedness plans to ensure the continuity of essential health services duringemergencies.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Wijesekara, N. W. A. N. Y., Wedamulla, A., Perera, S., Pesigan, A., & Ofrin, R. H. (2020). Assessment of drought resilience of hospitals in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional survey. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/331835