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 After nearly a month of rescue efforts and emergency assistance, the Iranian city of Bam faces a deadly catch-22: a devastating December 26 earthquake created a desperate need for medical facilities – and destroyed 90 percent of the health buildings in the city.
“Health centers and posts are a vital cog in the Iranian health system, but 9 out of 10 health buildings in Bam are either now piles of rubble or have sustained so much structural damage that they are dangerous to use,” said Iraj Sharifi, of the Iranian Ministry of Health.
World Vision and the Health Ministry will partner to reconstruct medical posts and health centers throughout the city. In addition, World Vision will equip the facilities with refrigerators for vaccines, medical equipment, latrines, washbasins and furniture.
“This partnership is a breakthrough with the Iranian government, which usually is wary of working with aid agencies” said Paul Sitnam, World Vision’s relief manager in Bam. The expected cost of rebuilding and furnishing the clinics is about $850,000.
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