Students of the Master of Public Health (MPH) programme organised a community awareness session on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and soil-transmitted helminths in a remote border village of Meghalaya. This field-based initiative offered valuable experiential learning and underscored the importance of community-centred public health practice.
To address the village’s cultural and linguistic diversity, the session was delivered in three languages – Khasi, Bengali, and Hindi. This inclusive strategy enabled effective communication, encouraged meaningful participation, and strengthened trust between the students and community members, demonstrating the significance of culturally responsive health education.
The programme was conducted with the support and presence of the village headman, alongside members of the Village Health Committee (VHC) and the VHC secretary. Their involvement enhanced community participation and ensured the contextual relevance of the session, contributing substantially to its effectiveness.
Engagement with one of the region’s most remote habitations instilled a renewed sense of purpose among the students. The experience reinforced the understanding that public health initiatives must extend beyond institutional settings to reach underserved populations. Even small, student-led efforts can foster awareness, stimulate dialogue, and support positive behavioural change.
Beyond the structured activities, the journey itself added depth to the learning experience—from observing shifts in landscape and climate, to shared team experiences, and warm post-session interactions with community members and VHC representatives. The community’s openness and thoughtful feedback were particularly encouraging.
This field exposure reaffirmed a core public health principle: meaningful impact does not depend on scale alone, but on sincerity, presence, and sustained commitment. As future public health professionals, the students carry forward a strengthened appreciation for the power of consistent, community-engaged efforts in driving lasting change.
