SAJIDA Foundation holds webinar on impacts of Covid-19

The Covid 19 pandemic has subsided, but its long-term impacts continue to haunt the low-wage on low and middle-income countries (LMICs), speakers said in a recent webinar organised by SAJIDA Foundation.

The webinar titled ‘Covid Landscape in Low – and Middle - Income Countries (LMICs): Lessons Learnt from Experience and Impact of Covid-19’ was broadcasted live on Sajida Foundation’s Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube pages, reads a press statement.

The webinar was divided in two plenary sessions highlighting the experience, impact and policy implications. The sessions were chaired by Zarina Nahar Kabir, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society at Karolinska Institute; and Ahmed Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury, PhD, professor of Population and Family Health at Columbia University and adviser to the James P. Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University.

Speakers included Ahmed Jojan Nandonik and Asibul Islam Anik from SAJIDA Foundation, Dr Tanvir Ahmed, fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, UK, Associate Professor Magen Mutepfa from the University of Botswana; Professor Shamini Prathapan from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka; Professor Indranil Mukhopadhyay from the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, India.

Speakers presented their research findings on the challenges of Covid-19 in LMICs from the perspectives of patients, healthcare providers, and family members, and discussed during and post-pandemic mental and physical health impact.

They also showcased findings on LMIC responses to the pandemic and shared lessons to be learned from the experience of a Bangladeshi NGO.

They said although challenges faced during pandemic, especially on mental health were quite similar among Botswana, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, the contributing factors were quite different.

The pandemic’s impact and related restrictions have also raised widespread concerns, particularly with recent evidence showing an increase in mental health problems. LMICs with weak health systems have still been reported to struggle, and the prevalence of comorbidities has increased the risk of direct and indirect consequences of Covid-19 on populations.

Speakers at the webinar stated that a coordinated effort from different stakeholders from a very early stage is extremely crucial to tackle future pandemic, especially for LMICs.

According to a study by SAJIDA Foundation on the impacts of the Covid-19, nearly half of the respondents reported changes in their income and expenditure. Of them, earnings were reduced for 92 per cent of the participants, while spending rose for 88 per cent.

On the other hand, 45 per cent of the participants reported at least one mental health-related symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress. 11 per cent respondents reported experiencing any two symptoms simultaneously, whereas 12 per cent reported coexisting symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress at the same time.

Learning from SAJIDA’s experience, a framework has been proposed to prepare for future pandemic like situation. The framework includes capability assessment, collaboration, compassionate leadership and clear communication.