Principal Component Analysis of Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Opportunities in Nepal's Health Sector Building Projects

Earthquakes significantly disrupt health infrastructure, leading to loss of life and service interruptions. However, reconstruction phases offer chances to enhance facility, quality and community resilience. This study investigates the potential opportunities for post-earthquake reconstruction of health sector buildings in rural Nepal, employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify key factors. The analysis identifies four primary opportunity components: Seismic Resilience and Opportunity Framework, Disaster Resilient Health Infrastructure, Rebuilding for Prosperity Program, and International Aid for Economic Growth. The first and most significant component, “Seismic Resilience and Opportunity Framework”, explained 33.71% of the total variance with an eigenvalue of 5.394. These four components encompass policies for disaster management, leveraging earthquakes for risk management and anticipatory actions, aligning with the 'Build Back Better' approach, and mobilizing international aid for economic development. The PCA results show that these components explain 56.903% of the total variance in the dataset, underscoring their significant impact on the successful reconstruction of health sector buildings. The study highlights the importance of strategic implementation of these opportunities to enhance the resilience, safety, and functionality of health infrastructure in Nepal. By embracing these insights, policymakers and stakeholders can ensure a robust health system that not only recovers from disasters but also thrives, contributing to the overall well-being of the Nepalese population.