Event, June 27: Neighbours in Peace and Health

Eminent physicians and health activists across the South Asian region and diaspora come together to discuss South Asia’s healthcare situation and the way forward.

Sapan invites you for the third in a series of curated monthly events themed ‘Imagine! Neighbours in Peace’, a title borrowed from an unpublished volume by Chowk.com, 2005.

Neighbours in Peace and Health

WHEN: Sunday, June 27, 2021 – 8 pm PKT/8.30 pm IST/11 am EST

HOW: Zoom webinar through registration; Facebook Live

WHO: Speakers include feminist activist Khushi Kabir in Dhaka introducing the event, journalist Beena Sarwar briefly sharing the SAPAN story, pioneering Ramon Magsaysay awardee Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury in Dhaka, public health activist Dr. Vandana Prasad in Delhi, mental health specialist Dr Haroon Ahmed Syed in Karachi, infectious diseases physician Dr Anup Subedee in Nepal and others. Journalist Mandira Nayar will moderate the discussion. Activist Lalita Ramdas will close the event.

UPDATE, 28 JUNE 2021:

As the Delta variant spreads death and disruption across South Asia, prominent public health experts have said Covid-19 cannot be defeated unless there is a region-wide approach.

The third in the series of SAPAN’s monthly public webinars themed ‘Imagine: Neighbours in Peace’ focused on health as an entry point to talk about South Asian regionalism and ‘healthcare for all’.

Physicians and public-health experts from the region and the diaspora discussed how the pandemic is affecting rural areas of South Asia, hurdles in its treatment, and access (or lack thereof) to vaccinations. They also discussed how Covid-19 has affected mental health, women and particularly in all the countries of the region.

The meeting took place as the region is battered by a devastating second wave of Covid-19, especially in India. The possibility of another wave looms large even as vaccination rates are still low in all countries in the region.

READ THE COMPLETE PRESS STATEMENT HERE.

MEDIA COVERAGE:

Nepali Times	Covid’s regional threat needs regional response
Daily News (Sri Lanka)	Health officials call for medical collaboration and social justice in South Asia
Times of India	Covid needs a regional response, say participants at ‘Neighbours in peace & health’ meet | India News
Himachal Watcher	Covid-19 Needs a Regional Response, Say Physicians and Activists at SAPAN Meeting
Voicepk.net	South Asian Activists & Doctors Call For Regional Response To COVID-19
Journeys to Democracy	Covid-19 needs a Regional response
Money Control	South Asia Union | Doctors, Public Health Experts Call For Medical Collaboration And Social Justice In South Asia
Naya Daur	“We are all one people” — Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury Salima Hashmi, sharing SAPAN vision and Charter  Beena Sarwar, talking about SAPAN vision  Khushi Kabir, introducing the SAPAN webinar  Lalita Ramdas on peace in South Asia Dr Hamid Jafri and Dr Amit Shah on importance of Healthcare in South Asia “Female health workers bear the brunt” – Dr Anup Subedee “This degree of social injustice in health is unacceptable” – Dr Vandana Prasad
South Asia Monitor	Pandemic-hit South Asia must evolve a coordinated strategy to improve public health systems | South Asia Monitor
Daily News	Health officials call for medical collaboration and social justice in South Asia

MORE ABOUT SAPAN: The South Asia Peace Action Network, formed on March 28, is a coalition of individuals and organisations joining hands to take forward the principles and ideals of peace, justice, democracy and human rights that mentors and leaders like I.A Rehman, Asma Jahangir, Dr Mubashir Hasan, Nikhil Chakravartty, Nirmala Deshpande, Kuldip Nayar, Rajni Kothari and others envisioned and worked for.

We believe that the way forward lies in greater socio-economic cooperation, resource-sharing between nation states and regions, and a visa-free South Asia or a confederation of nations. We are still grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, causing an unprecedented loss of lives and livelihoods. Nobody is safe unless everybody is safe. This moment impresses upon us the need for collective action and regionalism, as outlined in our 30 May Resolution (open for endorsements). Our grief is collective, and so is our struggle for justice and peace, through peaceful, collective, consistent action.

Follow SAPAN on social media: @southasiapeace on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube