Abstract
ABSTRACT Background: Sri Lanka is vulnerable to floods and other hydro-meteorological disasters. Climate change is projected to increase the intensity of these events. Objective: This study aimed to assess the flood preparedness in healthcare facilities in Eastern Province. Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, mixed methods study conducted in Trincomalee District. Surveys were conducted in 31 government healthcare facilities, using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire covering the last 5 years. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted with randomly selected Medical Officers in Charge or their equivalent, and 3 interviews were conducted with Medical Offices of Health. Results: Two general hospitals, 3 base hospitals, 11 divisional hospitals, and 15 primary care units were included. Six respondents (19.4%) reported flooding in their facility, and 19 (61.3%) reported flooding in their catchment area. For the health workforce, 77.4% of respondents reported not enough staff to perform normal service delivery during disasters, and 25.5% reported staff absenteeism due to flooding. Several respondents expressed a desire for more disaster-specific and general clinical training opportunities for themselves and their staff. Most respondents (80.7%) reported no delays in supply procurement during weather emergencies, but 61.3% reported insufficient supplies to maintain normal service delivery during disasters. Four facilities (12.9%) had disaster preparedness plans, and 4 (12.9%) had any staff trained on disaster preparedness or management within the last year. One quarter (25.8%) of respondents had received any written guidance on disaster preparedness from the regional, provincial, or national level in the last year. Conclusions: While there is a strong health system operating in Sri Lanka, improvements are needed in localized and appropriate disaster-related training, resources for continuing clinical education, and investments in workforce to strengthen flood and other disaster resilience within the government healthcare system in the study district.
Highlights
Sri Lanka is vulnerable to floods and other hydro-meteorological disasters
Within the last five years, 6 facilities (19.4%) directly experienced flooding, while 19 facilities (61.3%) experienced flooding in their catchment area
Because the Regional Directors of Health Services (RDHS) serves as the intermediary between health facilities and the Provincial Directors of Health Services (PDHS), only two facilities (6.5%) reported any disaster communication directly with the PDHS in the last year
Summary
Sri Lanka is vulnerable to floods and other hydro-meteorological disasters. Climate change is projected to increase the intensity of these events. Climate change is a reality uncontested in the scientific community, with effects projected to have dramatic consequences for the environment and human health, from more extreme weather events to changes in the distribution and incidence of vector-borne infectious diseases and increases in heat-related illnesses. These will put pressure on health systems. Has this facility experienced flooding in catchment area in last 5 years? Has this facility experienced flooding on premises in last 5 years? Did your facility experience: ☐ Phone lines down ☐ Internet down ☐ Power outages ☐ Road access to health facility impaired
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