A task for South Asia

The virus reminds us that it is in our collective interest to look at health security and not just national security

Sanjay Nagral, Aamir Jafarey
April 29, 2020, The Hindu

Traffic policemen offer prayers before breaking their fast along a street in Karachi on April 28, 2020 during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown.

South Asia, one of the world’s most populous regions, is also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . Both Karachi and Mumbai, among the world’s most densely populated cities, where we live and work, are being overwhelmed by cases. While the death rate in these places may not be as alarming as in Europe and the U.S., the collateral damage of the lockdown is taking its own toll.

While there are many differences amongst the countries of the region, there are also common features which impact the health of its people, some of them a result of our shared cultural and geopolitical history. The collective experience of dealing with COVID-19 may provide important lessons, which transcend national boundaries.

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