In May, our team was able to visit the Savitri Waney Eye Centre in Purnea, Bihar, a 60 bed hospital supported by a team of 70 people. Due to Covid restrictions, we had been unable to see the hospital since its opening in October 2020. During our visit we were able to explore every aspect of the hospital, making for a very busy trip!
Last week, our colleagues in India took a trip to visit our palliative care partners at Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre. After 2+ years of Covid restrictions, our team in India were able to travel to the state of Assam where the hospital provides underserved communities across the Northeast with comprehensive cancer and palliative care services.
We are increasingly directing funds and developing our learning on the health implications of harmful chemicals. Since 2020, we have partnered with Pesticide Action Network UK, the only UK charity focused on tackling the issues caused by pesticides.
This #WorldCancerDay we are sharing a little more about our support for both palliative and preventive cancer care.
We have signed a joint statement urging the UK Government to take immediate action to restrict the use of PFAS to protect the nation’s health. PFAS (per and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances) are a category of synthetic substances, nicknamed “forever chemicals”, because they do not break down in the environment. Valued for their non-stick and stain-repellent properties, they can be found in food packaging, cosmetics, cookware, waterproof clothing, carpets, mattresses and electronics.
Indigenous Peoples make up 6% of the world’s population, and yet are responsible for stewarding 80% of its remaining biodiversity (United Nations). Since 2019, we have increasingly directed funds in support of indigenous communities in the fight to defend their rights and safeguard their ancestral land and knowledge.
You can listen to our Trustee, Devika Waney Mokhtarzadeh, in conversation with Pesticide Action Network UK, ClientEarth, CHEMTrust and Fidra on the complexities of toxic chemical pollution and their impact on human and environmental health as part of the Environmental Funders Network series ‘Inspiring People’.
In celebration of Savitri’s 20th year in philanthropy, we decided to do something a little different for our latest Annual Report. To signify this milestone, we are taking you on a journey from the origins of Savitri’s work in Community Health, right up to where we are heading with our increasing focus on Environmental Health.
The production and preservation of organic, local and agroecological seed is needed now more than ever. Not only to restore our depleted soils and preserve traditional & resilient seed varieties, but also to ensure that we as consumers have access to healthy nutritious food.