Kathmandu, July 8:

The regional meeting of the South Asia Forum for Health Research concluded today, approving the Kathmandu Declaration and the participants vowed to promote cooperation in health sector among the South Asian countries.

The declaration stated that multi-centric research on maternal, newborn and child health, TB, HIV/AIDS, trauma cases, malaria and other communicable and non-communicable diseases will be conducted in the countries. Research would also be conducted on environmental and health issues.

According to the declaration, the meeting has agreed to set up a steering committee with a tenure of three years on rotation basis from respective member countries. The chairperson of the committee will be from the country where the secretariat is located.

It has also agreed to temporarily set up a secretariat at Nepal Health Research Council for the next three years with the NHRC being the originator of the SAFHR. The secretariat will be set up in other member countries according to the alphabetical order.

The declaration further stated that members had agreed to ensure funding from national governments and also seek additional funds from different national and international organisations to establish South Asian Research Fund. The SAFHR members have committed to work together to promote research on health and develop a strong network.