ADN Country Chapter Updates
By Abdullahi O. Umar
ADN has two country chapters, and this article provides an update from Bangladesh and India.
Bangladesh: Dr Fatima Akter hosts the ADN Bangladesh Chapter at the University of Dhaka. In 2024, the Bangladesh Chapter led three impactful activities.
Global Campaign: On March 9 2024, Dr Fatima Akter celebrated International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD) in collaboration with Data Management Aid (DMA) and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS). The event gathered experts and stakeholders to explore strategies for reducing avoidable deaths. Representatives from institutions such as the International Drowning Research Centre-Bangladesh (IDRC-B), Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), University of Leicester, UK, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University led the key discussions.
On March 10, 2024, Dr Fatima Akter led a rally, which included students and teachers from the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Prof Nibedita Ray-Bennett took part in the rally too. The event underscored the collective commitment to tackling avoidable deaths and emphasised the critical role of community engagement and proactive measures. The rally began at the Central Shahid Minar, concluded at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, and concluded at the main campus, followed by an interview with local press and media.
Throughout the seminar and rally, 50 participants, including chairs, speakers, and students from various esteemed institutions, discussed the importance of issuing early warnings and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enhance disaster resilience. Prof Dr A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, highlighted the necessity of early warnings for public awareness. At the same time, Dr Fatima Akter stressed the importance of shared expertise and collaborative efforts in saving lives.
Floods in August: Furthermore, ADN offered critical support to communities in Bangladesh devastated by recent floods. The relief initiative, led by Dr Fatima Akter, involved ADN Future Leaders and interns Sadia Afrin Sayfa Negaban and Mohammad Fahimul Islam, both meteorology students. Funds raised by ADN were used to deliver essential school supplies to 200 children, sanitary napkins for adolescent girls, and medical supplies like antifungal medicine, saline, and multivitamins.
The supplies were distributed to students from classes 6 to 9 at Chitholia Nasir Uddin High School in Salia, Porshuram, Feni. The initiative provided immediate relief and aimed to help the affected communities resume normalcy and build resilience. This effort underscores ADN’s mission to reduce avoidable disaster-related deaths globally and highlights the Department of Meteorology’s commitment to disaster management and humanitarian aid in Bangladesh.
India: Mr Dillip Pattanaik hosts the ADN India Chapter at the Orrisa State Volunteers Social Workers Association (OSVSWA). In 2024, the India Chapter led two impactful activities.
Global Campaign: From March 12th to 14th, 2024, OSVSWA hosted the in-person symposium to mark International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD). The symposium was funded by Ophirex, Inc., All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI), Centre for Research and Community Action (CeRCA), Star Union Dai-Ichi Life Insurance, Kansai University, and the University of Leicester Institute of Environmental Futures.
Symposium: The symposium on March 12th, held at the Suryansh Hotel and Resort in Bhubaneswar, discussed avoiding deaths from snakebites, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), sexual and reproductive health complications, and drowning. In attendance were ADN Presidents Prof Nibedita Ray-Bennett, and Dr Hideyuki Shiroshita. With 26 speakers and 120 participants, the symposium included representatives from various national and international organisations, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and HelpAge India (among others).
Professor Peter Jackson Annual Lecture: The symposium also hosted the second Professor Peter Jackson Annual Lecture delivered by Professor Vinod Sharma from the All-India Institute for Public Administration. This lecture was funded by the University of Leicester School of Business’s Crisis and Disaster Risk Management research cluster.
Award ceremony: The celebration of the International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths and the Avoidable Deaths Network’s birthday on the evening of March 12th featured a cake cutting, an awards ceremony, and a discussion on preventing heatwave-related deaths. This event, held at the same venue, attracted 31 participants from various institutions, both in-person and virtually. The discussions emphasised the critical need for early warning systems and community engagement to mitigate the impact of heat wave-related avoidable disasters.
Visit to CaSA: On March 13th, a field visit to Burujhari village highlighted the ongoing efforts to reduce snakebite deaths through the Case Station for Avoidable Snakebite Deaths (CaSA) initiative. Sixteen delegates, including local community members and representatives from institutions such as the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and the Indian Council of Medical Research, engaged with the village residents, providing key tips and sharing information about upcoming activities. The visit underscored the importance of local community involvement and proactive measures in reducing snakebite fatalities.
Debrief: The event concluded on March 14th with a special session on the Broad-Spectrum Rapid Antidote: Varespladib Oral for Snakebite (BRAVO) and a debrief meeting on the global campaign at OSVSWA Office. Dr Stephen Samuel from Ophirex, Inc. briefed attendees on the progress of the Varespladib Oral trial, followed by a review of the campaign activities by the ADN and ADN India Hub members. This final session highlighted the innovative approaches to combat snakebite-related deaths and the collaborative efforts required to enhance disaster preparedness and response in vulnerable communities.