Webinar 3: Thinking the Unthinkable: Harnessing the Pandemic to Improve SDG-6, Health and Sanitation
The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has highlighted the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in protecting human health. However, while the Asia-Pacific region has seen significant progress towards SDG 6 targets during the past 20 years, the region still faces critical challenges due to scarce water resources, rapid population growth, and poor public infrastructure.
COVID-19 is a highly communicable disease, transmitted by contact and airborne particles and was declared a ‘Global Pandemic’ in March 2020. However, the most notable recommendation was the need for comprehensive WASH practices, which requires communities to have safe, accessible, and sustainable water resources. COVID-19 has impacted almost every aspect of human life from health, to livelihoods, food security, human rights, gender equality, and mortality. This crisis calls for collaboration and solidarity on the development of improved prevention strategies and strengthened resilience in the face of global health shocks. Namely, it is important to understand the role SDG 6 played in the management of the COVID-19 outbreak, how progress has been impacted, and what actions are required to accelerate SDG 6 progress in a COVID-19 context.
Experts will assess the role of water in the current responses to Covid-19 and in future phases of recovery and resilience. How Covid-19 has impacted differently in improvement of the water, health and sanitation.
Topic: Thinking the Unthinkable: Harnessing the Pandemic to Improve SDG-6, Health and Sanitation
Time: 4:00-6:00 PST
Sponsor: Hisaar Foundation, Engro Foundation and HANDS
Moderator: Dr. Daanish Mustafa
Objectives:
Experts will assess the role of water in the current responses to COVID-19 and in future phases of recovery and resilience
Description & Featured Participants/Speakers
- Introduction Session by Simi Kamal (2min)
- Welcoming remarks by Sanaa Baxamoosa (5 min)
- Webinar Introduction by Moderator Dr. Daanish Mustafa (3 min)
- Keynote Speech by Dr. Shahbaz Khan: “Role of water in the current responses to COVID-19 and future phase of recovery and resilience” (20 min)
- Keynote Speech by Dr. Josiane Nikiema : “Thinking the Unthinkable: Harnessing the pandemic to Improve SDG 6 capacity development” (20 min)
- Q&A (10 min)
- Presentation by Dr. Nida Hussain: “Technical brief on water, sanitation, hygiene to prevent infections and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance” (10 min)
- Presentation by Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed: “Case study of HANDS with respect to Covid-19 and water” (10 min)
- Presentation by Afia Salam (10 min)
- Presentation by Dr. Noman Ahmed : “Sanitations Issues in Karachi” (10 min)
- Q&A (15min)
- Closing remarks on “Role of water in a post pandemic world” by Dr. Daanish Mustafa ( 5 min)
- Concluding remarks by Simi Kamal (5 min)
- Vote of Thanks by Sameen Binte Huda ( 3 min)