Nazanin Zaghari, Information Officer at the Federation’s Iran Delegation
A ceremony on 11 June 2006 marked a key point in the reconstruction of Bam, Iran, when the Zia Urban Health Centre was formally handed over to the Ministry of Health. The health centre is one of several reconstruction projects instigated by the International Federation and the Iranian Red Crescent. Others include building five standard schools, three schools for children with disabilities, a model school complex, an orthopaedic centre and a cultural centre.
Bam was hit by a devastating earthquake on 26 December 2003. The city and surrounding villages suffered extensive damage and casualties. The health structures were particularly badly affected, with all 95 health houses, 14 rural health centres, 10 urban health centres and government hospitals destroyed.
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the International Federation provided emergency medicines and psycho-social support as well as deploying several Emergency Response Units (ERUs) for water and sanitation, basic healthcare and hospital treatment. The ERU hospital was providing emergency, in-patient and out-patient care to the local population until March last year.
The second half of 2005 saw the culmination of planning, resource mobilisation and necessary agreements when the full reconstruction programme got underway. This process was particularly complex and time-consuming in Bam due to the massive scale of the destruction and many construction-related problems such as land ownership and allocation, building permissions, architectural designs and the adjustment of designs to preserve historical sites. The lack of skilled workers and building materials and the frequently-interrupted supply of electricity and water added further complications.
That substantial progress has been made is thanks to the joint efforts of all parties concerned. The Zia Urban Health Centre, one of 11 to be built in Bam, is a typical example of this cooperation. As Ahmed Gizo, Head of the Federation’s Regional Office in Amman, emphasised at the hand-over ceremony: “This health centre will be remembered forever for the noble humanitarian spirit displayed by all parties concerned after the earthquake.”
The sentiment was echoed by Mr Dabbaghzade, Acting Secretary General of the Iranian Red Crescent, who told the audience: “The construction of this health centre is a good example of solidarity between member national societies and the excellent coordination ensured by the International Federation."
The centre has been built with the financial support of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of Belgium (Flanders), Norway, Malaysia and Qatar.
The 970 m2 of land was donated by Mrs Zia, a local woman after whom the centre is named. The project has involved the International Federation, the Iranian Red Crescent, the Ministry of Health and the local authorities, all of whose commitment helped overcome the difficulties and ensure the project was completed on time. Once completed, the centre was furnished with medical equipment and furniture provided by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation.
The Zia Urban Health Centre has been built in the heart of Bam city. It is designed to serve a population of 10,000 with medical care such as general check ups, emergency care, dentistry, vaccinations, family and environmental health. The complex also includes residential accommodation for nurses and doctors.
"Since the earthquake, the residents here have suffered a lot for the lack of health facilities,” said Dr Bashir Salam, representative of the World Health Organisation. “Of the eleven urban health centres that have been or will be built in Bam, this is the best in terms of size and quality of construction."
“Today my dream has finally come true,” said an emotional Mrs Zia. “After the tragic earthquake in the city, I was desperate to find a way to support my neighbours who were in deep distress living with no schools, no hospitals and no clinics. I decided to donate my land, my only property left intact, because this was the only thing I could do for the benefit of the Bam people. To my great joy, the International Federation accepted my offer and has built a magnificent urban health centre on this land.”
The Zia Urban Health Centre is the first product delivered by the International Federation as part of its reconstruction programme in Bam. Other projects are very close to completion. The Federation is working hard to deliver all nine schools before the start of the new Iranian school year on 24 September 2006.