The Advanced Study Institute of Asia (ASIA) is dedicated to tackling important healthcare challenges and inequalities across Asia. Focused on promoting health and identifying gaps in the system, ASIA works on a wide range of projects that cover key areas like healthcare systems, health financing, medical education, air pollution, climate change, tuberculosis and nutrition, essential medicines, and geriatric care. Through teamwork and research, ASIA aims to create sustainable healthcare solutions that ensure everyone has access to quality care, ultimately improving health outcomes and fostering social progress throughout the region.
Since January 2024, ASIA has been leading an important initiative to address the critical issue of “Lead poisoning in South Asia”. By convening scholars, experts, and stakeholders, ASIA aims to drive research, advocacy, and awareness to protect communities from the devastating impacts of lead exposure. This initiative acknowledges that nearly half of the 800 million children worldwide with elevated blood lead levels reside in South Asia. To combat this issue, the project has developed a background document and a working paper on blood lead level thresholds, which aim to raise awareness about the severe health impacts of lead exposure and advocate for stronger regulatory frameworks. The policy dialogue has identified gaps in existing policies and proposed actionable recommendations tailored to the unique challenges faced by South Asian communities, culminating in a comprehensive policy brief.
The Lead Poisoning Prevention Project actively engages with experts, stakeholders, and policymakers through initiatives like the Progress and Policy Colloquia, which serve as platforms for knowledge-sharing and policy dialogue. These colloquia focus on identifying policy gaps and fostering collaborative solutions to mitigate lead exposure risks. The upcoming Evidence Gap Map (EGM) Workshop will further enhance these efforts by prioritizing evidence-based solutions to lead poisoning, ensuring that the needs of the most affected populations are at the forefront of policy and practice. Through these collective actions, ASIA is committed to promoting equitable health outcomes and safeguarding communities from the harmful effects of lead exposure. By implementing these strategies, the Lead Poisoning Prevention Project at ASIA aims to promote equitable health outcomes and mitigate the disproportionate impact of lead exposure on vulnerable populations in South Asia. Through research, advocacy and collaborative efforts, the project is committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of all communities.
Leader: Sh. Indu Bhushan
Coordinator: Shipra Agarwal, Neeti Goutam
