Devotees wearing a facemask amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus take a selfie at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, on March 17, 2020. (NARINDER NANU / AFP)

After a gap of almost six years, leaders of eight South Asian countries, referred to as SAARC or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, were brought together by the urgency to jointly fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Asia has so far reported close to 400 cases as the coronavirus infection has spread to every continent except Antarctica

Heads of government of SAARC countries and their representatives attended a meeting via video conferencing, called by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 15, to discuss a road map to combat the challenges from the spread of the virus in one of the most populous regions in the world.

Dr Zafar Mirza, Prime Minister Imran Khan's special adviser on health, represented Pakistan at the meeting during which Prime Minister Modi announced the setting up of a “COVID-19 emergency fund" to which India would contribute US$10 million initially.

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Though the proposed fund is voluntary in nature, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said SAARC member countries "must pool in their limited resources to battle this crisis."

The leaders also discussed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's suggestion for a framework of telemedicine to combat the novel coronavirus and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's call to establish an institution to prevent and fight any public health threat in the region.

The health ministers of the grouping are following up on the suggestions such as the deployment of medical staff and training of healthcare workers to deal with the pandemic.

The region has so far reported close to 400 cases as the coronavirus infection has spread to every continent except Antarctica.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 125 on March 17 with seven new cases in the western state of Maharashtra, two in Karnataka, one each in Kerala and Telangana, respectively, in the southern parts of the country, according to the country's health ministry.

Neighboring Pakistan recorded its biggest single-day spike of 134 infections on March 16, taking the tally to 184.

Residents wearing facemasks amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus walk on a street in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 17, 2020. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

Meeran Yousuf, spokesperson for Pakistan's Sindh province’s health minister, attributed the spike to those who had been held at a quarantine camp in Taftan, the country's border crossing with Iran, testing positive.

"The spike is because of the people who came from Taftan. They had been quarantined there, and then we moved them to our own facility where we tested them," he said.

Iran, one of the worst-hit by COVID-19, shares its border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, two member states of the SAARC.

Another member state, Sri Lanka, reported a near doubling of cases to 18 from 10 this week. While India reported three deaths, there is none yet from other countries so far. 

The spread of the virus might not yet be as rampant in South Asia, but the outbreak could have a more dangerous impact in the region, home to 23 percent of the global population, especially because of the unsatisfactory health infrastructure and the poor health emergency response system.

Except a few, the countries in the region have overcrowded public transport systems, public spaces and a crowded living environment for the poor. All these make social distancing, one of the best forms of precautions against the spread of the virus, a very difficult task.

Millions of people from the region also work in different parts of the world. It is estimated that India has 450 million emigrants in its 1.3 billion population. Tourism-driven economies, such as the Maldives, have started to feel the pinch and the Indian Ocean country is expected to see the tourist footfall decline by 40 percent this year.

In view of these challenges, the leaders of the SAARC group seem determined to put aside their differences and fight the virus which is spreading exponentially across many parts of the world.

"Let’s unite in solidarity during these trying times and keep our citizens safe," Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.

"Our collective efforts will help us devise a sound and robust strategy for the SAARC region to fight the coronavirus," said Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Bangladesh’s Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, "We are ready to work on the proposals agreed at the (SAARC video) conference."

The last summit of the leaders of the grouping, founded in 1985, was to take place at Islamabad in November 2016. But it was postponed amid tensions between India and Pakistan.

"Everyone should see this as an opportunity to move on. Pakistan should seize the opportunity to move on. Countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka were urging to move on," said former Indian diplomat Rajiv Bhatia. 

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The grouping has been discussing a health blueprint since 2015. But, due to their political differences, it has not become a reality yet. 

The Declaration on Public Health Challenges, adopted at the fifth meeting of SAARC health ministers in New Delhi in 2015, entailed plans for universal health coverage, improving health regulatory systems, preparedness for emerging diseases and the challenges from antimicrobial resistance.

The writer is a New Delhi-based journalist.