The old-fashioned mosque had huge archways which allowed the gushing water to flow through without any resistance. Other structures blocked the waves and came crashing down by the tsunami’s brute force.

A lesson was learnt and four years down the line the World Health Organisation (WHO) wants India to incorporate specific design measures which will make hospitals structurally sound during natural calamities.
While WHO understands the difficulties in retrofitting existing hospitals, the health agency is pinning its hopes on the six new tertiary care hospitals being built by the Centre during the 11th plan period.

“The government should incorporate disaster reduction measures in the architectural plans of these six hospitals. The cost will go up but the extra money spent is worth of it,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, deputy regional director at the WHO’s South East Asia regional office.

The new hospitals are coming up in Patna, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, Raipur and Bhopal. These hospitals are likely to face floods, quakes and cyclone.
In the new millennium, India has witnessed thre
e major natural calamities – the Bhuj earthquake of 2001, the tsunami of 2004 and the Jammu and Kashmir quake in 2005.
Instead, an increased capital cost of four per cent would have been able to serve the victims if those buildings were structurally safe.

The ancient mosque in Ache, said Dr Singh, served as the hub of all medical, relief, rescue and administrative activities as it was the only standing structure in the flattened town. “A properly designed hospital can do exactly the same during a disaster,” she added.
WHO has launched a global campaign to make governments aware of the importance to make hospitals structurally safe.