Friends of SAPHA!

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA). SAPHA has been in existence since 1999 and is a 501c(3) organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of South Asians and the communities in which they live within the United States. SAPHA is the premier organization dedicated to serving the public health needs of South Asian communities and has been recognized in a variety of ways for its ongoing work.

SAPHA embraces a holistic view of health as per the World Health Organization (WHO) definition: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”1

Further, SAPHA embraces the full spectrum of population-based health as laid out by The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defining public health as:

“What we as a society do to collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy.”2

Like other organizations involved in public health, SAPHA supports the notion that a population-based approach – centered in principles of prevention, equity and leadership - is the optimal means to improving the well-being of people and the communities in which they live.

SAPHA is made up of a diverse array of committed leaders involved in every facet of public health. From theory to practice, from teaching to learning, from prevention to response, SAPHA professionals have subject matter expertise in a variety of areas: chronic disease, mental health, health systems, wellness, refugee/international health, health equity, public health emergency preparedness, administration & management, and a myriad of other public health-related topics.

So who are the South Asians in America that SAPHA is dedicated to serving?

South Asians are a wide group of persons representing all walks of life, vocations, religions, and interests, who are bound by a common ancestry and history. South Asians are either directly themselves from South Asia or are descendants from the region. The countries of this region include individuals from the following six (6) countries of origin: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In turn, the four largest South Asian groups in America are the Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan communities, respectively. Equally important to note, the South Asian population in America is rapidly growing. For example, South Asians comprised the fastest growing Asian American ethnic group in the U.S. between 1990 and 2000 alone. According to the 2008 census data, there are over 3 million South Asians living in the United States. 3

The South Asian community in the U.S. is a heterogeneous community in every sense of the word. For example, the varieties of religions (e.g., Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism, to name a few), and languages (such as Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Urdu) represented are simply immense. SAPHA invites you to learn more about the incredible diversity of South Asians and our respective cultures – our communities are vibrant and rich, full of energy and busy with activity. Truly, South Asians are a reflection of the diverse fabric of modern-day America!

Given the size of South Asian populations in America, SAPHA strongly believes improving the health of South Asian communities is critically important in furthering the overall health of our nation. Yet serving South Asian communities mean that one must understand the challenges of culture, language, limited English proficiency, religion, beliefs, and customs. The need for South Asian-specific policy-making, culturally appropriate programming, and education/outreach remain critical areas for the success of our community members. SAPHA remains committed to working alone or in partnership with others to ensure our community’s public health needs are addressed.

Moving forward, SAPHA’s goals are two-fold: 1) to address the public health needs of South Asians and their communities in America; and 2) to further the professionalism, training, and networking of SAPHA professionals. Fortunately, we are not starting afresh as SAPHA has a long tradition of distinguished work in the field of South Asian public health. This work has included accomplishments such as:

• Presenting data and research on South Asian public health issues at national conferences;

• Advocating for policy-making on South Asian public health issues;

• Improving awareness of health needs of South Asians in America including:

o publishing the landmark SAPHA Brown Paper, the first of its kind comprehensive review of South Asian public health in America; and,

o developing de novo topical fact sheets on a variety of South Asian health topics;

• Building partnerships with other organizations interested in South Asian health; and,

• Fostering opportunities for networking and career advancement among SAPHA members.

We invite you to review these accomplishments and work with us as we continue to advance our efforts. While much has been accomplished, much work remains. We welcome you and invite you to help us meet our common goal of improving the health of South Asians and the communities within which they live.

Thank you,

SAPHA Board – 2010-2011 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

2 The Institute of Medicine. The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2003: xiv.

3 United States Census Bureau. Asian American Population Estimates. Retrieved 10 June 2010.