SASEA Steering Committee Meeting 2022
The SASEA Steering Committee Meeting Report (2022) summarizes a crucial three-day meeting held in Bali, Indonesia, from December 13-15, 2022. The meeting gathered key stakeholders from partner organizations, focusing on improving healthcare services, community research, and governance in the South and Southeast Asia (SASEA) region.
Meeting Highlights:
- Governance and Structure: Discussions revolved around establishing robust governance systems, including the drafting of a charter, election processes, and frequency of meetings.
- Political Position: The committee worked on defining SASEA’s political stance and identifying strategic areas of focus for health initiatives.
- Community Research Support: The role of community-led research in shaping interventions was emphasized, focusing on Hepatitis B and C, HIV, and co-morbidities.
- Funding and Advocacy: Strategies to secure institutional funding and strengthen advocacy efforts through Coalition Plus were explored.
Key Outcomes:
- Identified the need for enhanced collaboration, particularly in harm reduction, HIV care, transgender health, and human rights advocacy.
- Formulated an action plan focusing on improving healthcare access and addressing the stigma and discrimination faced by marginalized communities.
- Prioritized key activities such as Hepatitis B vaccination for key populations, community-led PrEP, and the development of services for transgender care.
The meeting concluded with concrete recommendations for moving forward, including securing additional funding and launching the SASEA platform in early 2023.