Kathmandu Declaration of  South Asian Forum for Health Research 8 July, 2008
Draft Copy, Comments Invites  from Member Institutions

Background
 

South Asian Countries have common health problems and common determinants for those health problems but there is lack of regional collaboration in health research. However, sharing research experiences, outcomes and resources among the member states can maximize the effort to deal with these problems. With this view, "Consultative Meeting for the Development of Health Research Agenda for South Asia" was held on June 4-5, 2003 in Kathmandu, Nepal. After various levels brainstorming and discussion made with the health research councils of the South Asian Countries, South Asian Forum for Health Research (SAFHR) was formed as a mechanism to deal with common regional health research agenda. The host country's Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) was given mandate to Chair the forum in rotation basis. Hence, in order to reactivate SAFHR and to strengthen the networking mechanism of medical/health research councils, NHRC has planned regional meeting of South Asian Countries in which two representatives from each member country will be invited. This meeting of SAFHR is also expected to be an initiative for collaboration and partnership between South-South countries.
In addition to identifying ways of strengthening collaboration in health research, a technical session is also planned.  The technical session will deliberate on research issue which is of importance to most of the countries in the region.  The list of topics for future technical sessions will be identified during the meeting.  However, for this meeting "Issues in Measuring Maternal Mortality" has been chosen as Maternal Mortality in South Asia Region is one of the highest in the world.

Objectives of the Activity

  • To explore the ways of strengthening collaboration in health research in South Asian Countries,
  • To share innovative methods for measuring Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)

Expected Outputs (in specific):

  • Mechanisms for collaboration and networking among Research Councils of south Asia countries will be identified and operationlized,
  • Methods of measuring maternal mortality in South Asian countries along with innovative approaches will be shared and mechanisms for replication of the methods will also be explored, and
  • Continuity of SAFHR activities will be ensured.
  • At the end of meeting “Declaration on South South collaboration in Health Research” will be issued.
  
SAFHR Organizing Committee:
     
Kathmandu Declaration

Dr. Mahesh Kumar Maskey
Dr. Sharad Raj Onta
Dr. Sudha Sharma
Dr. Kedar Baral
Dr. Arjun Karki
Dr. Chandra Prakash Maskey
Dr. Sunita Acharya

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Thailand
China
Indenesia

Corresponding Address:
Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC)
Ramshah path, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 4254220, 4227460

 

South Asia has a major share of global burden of diseases, partly due to the size of its population and particularly because it houses more than a third of the world's poor. South Asian and other developing countries are in the epidemiological transition and face double burden of disease where communicable diseases still persists, where as non-communicable diseases are on the rise and the reduction of maternal mortality is still a challenge for South Asia region. However, the Region has made significant progress in health development with a considerable increase in life expectancy, and decrease in infant and under-five mortality and maternal mortality.  Most countries have initiated reforms of their health systems in order to ensure universal access to quality health care.  Yet important challenges remain: closing the gaps and inequities in health in our societies, creating conditions that promote health and self-reliance, ensuring basic health services to all especially the poor, women and other vulnerable groups, upholding and enforcing health ethics, and placing health at the center of development.

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