Mizoram Health Sector Training

Hospitals are the backbone of disaster response, yet they themselves are highly vulnerable to emergencies such as earthquakes, fires, and mass casualty events. Recognizing this critical need, Geohazards International (GHI) partnered with the Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Mizoram and GeoHazards Society (GHS), to launch a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving hospital safety across Mizoram. The project focused on building the capacity of hospital teams to develop and implement Hospital Disaster Management Plans (HDMPs), ensuring that hospitals remain functional and effective during disasters.

Background

Mizoram is located in hilly terrain in Seismic Zone V, making its health infrastructure particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and landslides. In addition, hospitals face everyday risks such as fire hazards and mass casualty situations, which can compromise patient safety and disrupt critical health services. Prior to this initiative, most district hospitals lacked comprehensive disaster management plans. To address this gap, GHI and GHS worked closely with state authorities to introduce structured training and planning processes tailored to Mizoram’s hospital systems.

The effort began in November 2022 with a three-day online webinar that introduced hospital safety concepts and engaged district hospitals and empanelled facilities across Mizoram in partnership with the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). This laid the foundation for in-person training and plan development in 2023, creating a momentum for hospital preparedness at the state level.

Project Activities

• Awareness & Orientation (November 2022)
  A three-day online webinar on Hospital Safety for district hospitals and empanelled hospitals in Mizoram. The sessions introduced global best practices for hospital safety and disaster preparedness.

• HDMP Development Workshop (April 18–19, 2023)
  A two-day hands-on training in Aizawl brought together managers, nursing superintendents, and key staff from all district hospitals and empanelled hospitals. Participants learned to prepare Hospital Disaster Management Plans, and a model HDMP for Aizawl Civil Hospital was developed during the training.

• Follow-Up Support (July 31, 2023)
  An online session helped hospitals refine their draft HDMPs and address challenges in finalizing them.

• On-Site Reviews & Sensitization (December 2023)
  Resource teams from GHI and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) visited four district hospitals to review HDMP progress and conduct sensitization programs for staff at all levels.

• Tabletop Exercise at Aizawl Civil Hospital (December 2023)
  A fire emergency scenario tested the hospital’s HDMP, engaging staff in a realistic simulation to identify gaps and improve coordination.

• Zoram Medical College (ZMC) Training (December 8, 2023)
  A comprehensive session at Mizoram’s premier medical college to consolidate learning and ensure long-term sustainability of hospital safety efforts across the health sector.