SAFHeR

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 (SAFHeR) 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 SAFHeR 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 SAFHeR 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.