Evaluation of flood preparedness in government healthcare facilities in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.
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.
['Farley|Jessica M|JM|0000-0003-1597-1937', 'Suraweera|Inoka|I|', 'Perera|W L S P|WLSP|', 'Hess|Jeremy|J|0000-0002-0440-2459', 'Ebi|Kristie L|KL|']
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003695:Delivery of Health Care D004189:Disaster Planning D004190:Disasters D004632:Emergency Medical Services D055868:Floods D006078:Government Programs D006801:Humans D011320:Primary Health Care D013188:Sri Lanka D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
flood preparedness Sri Lanka Climate change health system natural disaster