Health Facilities Affected by Flood Simulation to a District in Malaysia

Abstract

Objective: The Ministry of Health Malaysia is developing a GIS database of health facilities in the country with the main aim to assist in the planning and development of the services, and in allocation of resources. Methodology: Apart from coordinates of the facilities, other digital information such as states and districts boundaries, main road networks and river were obtained from MacGDI, a centre responsible to manage geospatial data infrastructure in Malaysia. In assisting the Ministry of Health in its planning, one of the analyses that were conducted was a flood simulation analysis in a district in a coastal area of Peninsular Malaysia. This was done following a possibility that a tropical storm “Sonamu” would happen in that area. The objective was to identify health facilities that would be affected if a flood were to happen in the district and finally to assist the Ministry of Health in their emergency plan. Data on contour was obtain from a relevant government agency and was also mapped digitally. Results: The results were showing that with one metre depth of flood, more than half of the facilities would be affected and about two third of the facilities would be affected if the flood level rises to 2.5 metres. Conclusion: Application of GIS is very useful for the health sector in planning of facing an environmental related disaster.