1. Part 2: Health and economical status of Bam before the earthquake
Disaster Epidemiology Lessons From Bam Earthquake Dec 26, 2003 Iran
Part 2: Health and economical
status of Bam before
the earthquake
A. Ardalan MD, MPH, PhD student in Epidemiology 1

2. status of Bam before the earthquake To understand the health
Learning objectives:
To view the economical
status of Bam before the
earthquake
To understand the health 2

3. Geographic location of Bam
The Southeast of Kerman
province, on the outskirts of the
Dasht-e-Lut Desert in Southeast
Iran.
Distance from other cities:
220 Km from the city of Kerman
1,283 Km from Tehran 3

4. Demography of Bam district before the earthquake
Total population: 240,000
Urban population: 40.4%
Rural population: 59.6% 4

5. Economical status of Bam before the earthquake
Direct employment in
agricultural sector: 25%
Most date farmers were small
holders, and as such vulnerable
in socio-economic terms. 5

6. Economical status of Kerman province
Unemployment rate: 25%
Population lived below the
universal poverty line: 10%
Kerman province faces a number of development challenges including: the presence of Afghan refugees, recurrent droughts and drug trafficking. 6

7. Citadel of Bam and economy
The city of Bam is famous for
its ancient architecture.
Bam’s 2500 year-old ancient
citadel drew in about 15,000
foreign tourists last year and
as many as three times the
number of Iranian tourists. 7

8. Some Health Indicators of Kerman province compared with National level8

9. Some Health Indicators of Kerman province compared with National level (Non- communicable diseases)9

10. Some Health Indicators of Kerman province compared with National level (Infectious diseases)10

11. Endemic and Epidemic Diseases
The most endemic diseases:
Malaria
Cutaneous leishmaniasis
Recently epidemics:
Typhoid fever
Cholera 11

12. Health care services of Bam before the earthquake
Health care services to the people in Bam District were provided by 95 Health Houses, staffed by primary healthcare workers (Behvarz) as the first level care providers, and 24 Health Centres (14 rural, and 10 urban) as the second level care facilities. Third level care services were delivered through three hospitals; two public and one private, with a total of around 255 beds altogether. 12

13. References:
UN Flash Appeal, Bam Earthquake of 26 December Islamic Republic of Iran Relief, Recovery and Immediate Rehabilitation. Available at:
Source: World Health Organization. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and WHO. Joint Project for: "Reconstruction of Health Services in Bam". Available at: 13