Incorporating the lessons learned from the 2012 East Azerbaijan Earthquakes in Iran's National Health Emergency Plan.

摘要

Revisions to Iran's National Public Health Emergency Operation Plan (PHEOP) are currently underway. Lessons learned from the recent twin earthquakes in East Azerbaijan in northeast Iran can be incorporated to enhance the health sector response. On August 11, 2012, two consecutive magnitude 6+ earthquakes hit East Azerbaijan (EA) province in Iran at 4:53 PM and 5:04 PM local time. The quakes led to 303 deaths and 2,600 injuries, and affected 60,000 people across 182 villages. The Ministry of Health and Medical Education deployed an assessment team to Tabriz (the capital of province) along with a team of technical advisers. Massive medical and search and rescue operations were undertaken during the first 24 hours, and were followed by public health operations. Here, we would like to address two main challenges that have bearing on revisions to the PHEOP.