News > With the significant contribution of the Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center in disasters of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences:

In the name of God

Emergencies and disasters are harmful events that occur as a result of human originated acts (errors or intentional actions that could damage individuals, groups or countries), or natural events (based on periodic patterns of nature) and cause human life to be disturbed. These events are constantly increasing in number, complexity and effects and have serious consequences on human health, environment, and basic social activities.

Historically, human efforts have been focused on predicting, mitigating, preparing to effective responding, providing rapid and proper response to and recovery from disasters to achieve a better condition in development path. The most important concern of experts and managers, in this regard, are health impacts and disturbances in providing basic services for the community members. Therefore addressing disturbances in life and social activities following emergencies and disasters needs more attention.

The health care system of each country is in charge of providing, protecting, and health promoting as the first and foremost human need in normal life as well as emergencies and disasters. As a result, during the last 25 years, all international documents/ frameworks including Yokohama, Hyogo, and Sendai have bolded the health issue and the governments’ commitment has been reiterated. On Sendai framework, for instance, which has designated the roadmap to disaster risk management for 2015- 2030 period, the health issue has been addressed for more than 30 occasions.

Islamic Republic of Iran is a one of the most vulnerable countries to natural and manmade disasters and Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs). Health in Emergencies and Disasters National Working Group (HEDNWG) has placed its own priority and emphasis on planning, policy-making, procuring, and coordinating resources to prevent, prepare, respond to and comprehensive recovery from emergencies and disasters. In this way, the HEDNWG has prioritized providing scientific evidences and encouraging health scientists to share their experiences and best practices.  The Basij Medical Society is an educated and promisor organization with Islamic believes foundations which works to meet this need and has largely contributed to providing and disseminating scientific evidences and development of comprehensive risk management thought process on health during the last 15 years. Prominent products of these activities are profound contribution to establishing and development of Disaster Management Organization, development of Health in Emergencies and Disasters discipline in the universities, and introducing Iran Health care system as a pioneer system on disaster risk management in the region.

The current congress which is the 8^th scientific event and the largest gathering on this topic in national and regional levels will be held in May 2017 by participation of experts, scientists, and senior managers. It is aimed to collect scientific evidences and sharing the experiences on the “Understanding Disaster Risk” as a first priority of Sendai framework. We hope to achieve the congress objectives by a wide peer attendance and active involvement which could in turn result in a further development of Iran in this field and reducing the suffering of our citizens.

Prof. Hamid Reza Khankeh

Scientific secretory of the 9^th congress on health in emergencies and disasters