Disaster Risk Management in Nepal: A Case Study from Selected Hospitals of Kathmandu Valley
| dc.contributor.author | Upreti, Niva | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-12-14T06:10:24Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-12-14T06:10:24Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2008 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Nepal is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. According to a study conducted by UNDP/BCPR, Nepal stands at 11 th and 30 th respectively with regard to relative vulnerability to earthquake and flood among 200 countries around the world. Kathmandu Valley which, is located in the earthquake-prone area, has experience of several devastating earthquakes in the past. Based on the historical records many experts believe that a major earthquake similar to that of 1934 AD (IX MMI intensity) can occur anytime. Today, earthquake risk in Kathmandu Valley is increasing due to rapid population growth and high density, increasing unsafe construction practices, low level of awareness and unplanned urbanization. According to the study carried out by the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET) under the Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project (KVERMP), an earthquake with similar level of shaking as that of 1934 AD earthquake today would result into approximately 40, 000 deaths and 95, 000 injuries in the Kathmandu Valley (Dixit et al., 1999). Hence, this study focuses on assessment of the status of preparedness and earthquake response capacities of health related institutions, agencies and hospitals system operating in Kathmandu Valley and draws conclusion for enhancing the preparedness. All together, 41 major hospitals from Kathmandu district (29 hospitals), Lalitpur district (7 hospitals), and Bhaktapur districts (5 hospitals) were surveyed as sample hospitals. The target hospitals were the government, as well as private ones. Different health related institutions / agencies located in the valley were inquired to identify their efforts in disaster risk management. Primary data was collected from the hospitals with the help of structured questionnaire. Personal interviews and Telephone interviews were also used as a method of data collection. A majority (71%) of the hospitals are located in the core urban area inside the Ring Road of the valley. There are a very small number of hospitals with small capacities in Bhaktapur District. Large part of the rural Village Development Committees (VDC) of the valley has no hospitals except one hospital located at Sankhu, at Kathmandu District. Two of other hospitals located at Jorpati, are very close to Kathmandu Metropolitan. Hence, large part of VDCs in the valley are dependent on primary health care centres, health post and sub-health post that usually suffer from insufficient health resources both in terms of human and medical iv Disaster Risk Management in Nepal: A Case Study from selected hospitals of Kathmandu Valley supplies. The existing number of beds available in the valley is 4,900 and with the addition of extra bed and mattress, the emergency state capacity increases to 5,400. This number of available beds is extremely low as compare to number of victims due to an earthquake of VIII or IX MMI intensity where nearly 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 injuries is expected. The number of doctors available in the hospitals is difficult to calculate, as there is no systematic association of doctors with the hospitals. However, it is calculated to be around 2,050 doctors and 2, 500 nursing staffs. It is also found that VDCs are more vulnerable with unavailability of doctors (with only one doctor is present in Primary Health Care Centre) during any major disasters. Other major surgical facilites like operation theatre (132) , ICU (88), X-rays (86), blood banks (11) and ambulances (60) in number seems to be extremely insuffecient for any huge earthquake disaster. Similarly availability of other critical lifeline facilites in the hospitals such as water supply, electricity, communication is likey to suffer during major earthquake. However, all hospitals have backup generator and many (50 percent) with suffecient alternative water supply system such as boring. Very few hospitals (24 percent) have suffcient space outside the hospitals. Almost all hospital administrators consulted during survey lack any formal classes, training, workshop etc. on disaster risk management. 32 hospitals (78 percent) lack disaster management plan and out of 9 hospitals (22 percent) having disaster management plan, only 6 hospitals have conducted drill to test the plan. In general, capacities for preparedness and response during disaster have started being developed in health sector of Kathmandu Valley although much effort is required to improve the present situation. The existing hospital capacity will be extremely insufficient for huge earthquake of VIII or IX MMI intensity where the injuries is estimated to be around 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 in number. Efforts are being made by government, non-government, institutions / agencies, international bodies, UN systems and hospitals to enhance preparedness and capacities and of the health sector in the valley as well as throughout the country. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14540/6518 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Department of Sociology | en_US |
| dc.subject | Risk Management | en_US |
| dc.subject | Earthquakes | en_US |
| dc.subject | Natural Disaster | en_US |
| dc.title | Disaster Risk Management in Nepal: A Case Study from Selected Hospitals of Kathmandu Valley | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
| local.academic.level | Masters | en_US |
| local.institute.title | Central Department of Sociology | en_US |