The South East Asian Region of IEA held a workshop and training meeting on 10-15 April 2017 at Pokhara, Nepal, on the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases. The workshop and training meeting was attended by 86 scientists from Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The Workshop focused on evidence based strategies for prevention and control mainly for cardiovascular diseases, but also for chronic kidney diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer and mental health in South East Asian countries and globally.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dame Valerie Beral from the University of Oxford, and IEA. The keynote address was given by Dr. Jos Vandelaer, World Health Organization Representative to Nepal.  Both emphasized the key role of epidemiology in addressing non-communicable diseases in South East Asia.

Eminent faculty members provided training by presentations and taking practical epidemiological   exercises.  The presentations covered the concepts of risk, risk factors and risk assessment; study designs; the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disorders, cancer, diabetes and metabolic diseases; tobacco, alcohol, diet, physical activity and obesity and disease surveillance, including cancer registration.