IRNA � Iran, with the help of UN-Habitat, is going to implement a project 'to reduce risk in the health sector', United Nations Information Center in Tehran announced on Tuesday.

Full text of the UNIC press released received by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) follows:

The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon begin implementation of the project �Inventory, Earthquake and Multi-Hazard Performance Evaluation of Existing Health Facilities in Islamic Republic of Iran�.

The project is funded by the Government of Japan. The objective of this cooperation is to develop a consensus-driven analytical foundation required for long-term investment to reduce risk in the health sector in Iran.

It will focus on five main outcomes:

i) Assessment of the vulnerability and risk of the health infrastructures to earthquakes and other natural hazards;

ii) Developing design guidelines for the Health Centers based on permanent function of structural and non-structural components, according to up-to-date international standards;

iii) Retrofitting and rehabilitation of the selected hospitals from non-structural components perspective;

iv) Capacity development of the health experts and individuals for design, construction, and utilization management of Health Centers.

v) Design of long term vulnerability reduction investment plan for Ministry of Health.

UN-Habitat believes this collaboration with the skilled technical personnel of the Ministry of Health will make a positive contribution to reduce seismic risks and in execution of its mandate in Iran.

UN-Habitat is also grateful to the Government of Japan for its generosity in financing this project.