Community Health - The Missing Link in Preventive Healthcare

Look around you -? every product or service that you interact with today tries to emote to you about how they’re better for you, your wellbeing, your healthcare. These positionings obviously mimic our own desires & intentions to want to be healthier. Then the question, “What needs to change?” arises, so that these can translate into actions, consistent behaviors & compelling results that make our healthcare efforts intrinsically motivated.

→ Enter - Community Health. The Third Place.

Whereas, in sociology, “The Third Place” refers to the 3rd social surrounding (other than home & workplace), which is critical for the individuals to feel human - have the sense of belonging & connection, I refer to “Community” being the cornerstone of preventive healthcare driving health decisions consciously & subconsciously. The scope of Community may include your family, relatives, friends, colleagues, members of the club you frequent with, fellow students, neighbors - any peer group.

Other than the fact that I run a Community Health start-up (https://healium.camp ), why am I obsessed with Community Health, & why should you be too? Let me outline its power & dynamics.

Between 2020 to 2022, the world witnessed the largest concurrent community health initiative with a very tangible - visible result & hence makes for an excellent reference point. I’m referring to us all wearing Masks through the COVID-19 pandemic. The salient forces at play here were:

• Me wearing my mask affects my health,
• Me wearing my mask affects my neighbors health,
• My neighbor wearing their mask affects my health in return too,
• So hence, we both must wear the mask for the collective safety of us both,
• We both realize the cause & continue to mask up even in moments of discomfort,
• It is collectively cheaper for us to wear the mask than facing a possible infection, disease, hospitalization, loss of quality of life & productive life years.
• So we both peer pressurize each other into wearing the mask,
• There is government endorsement for the same.

The outcome ? Reduced proliferation of the virus.

The same dynamics apply to all community health initiatives. In fact in an exponentially higher measure due to Network Effects. These are driven by (in no particular rank or consequence) :

1. Personal responsibility to oneself (selfish motives),
2. Personal social responsibility (altruistic motives),
3. Peer pressure / FOMO,
4. Low cost if undertaken collectively,
5. Positive feedback loop - & this keeps it sustained.
6. Government endorsement,

Additionally, the community may need a Champion to look up to !

If you are wondering how you can become part of community health initiatives, there are many options - digital & physical communities across preventive healthcare segments that are active.

Community Awareness:?

Eg., “Label Padhega India” This movement was kickstarted by Revant Himatsingka (“FoodPharmer ”) & now joined by several influencers & celebrities has caused collective public scrutiny of nutritious labels of branded food & beverage products causing brand owners to either change their labels to reflect the right information or reduce the use of harmful ingredients altogether.

Community Movement:

Eg., Wesness , a collaboration between Westside & Fitpage , a retail biggie coming together with an integrated fitness brand hosts fitness events like yoga workshops, dance workshops, etc. at Westside outlets early in the mornings. This is a match made in heaven where unoccupied retail spaces are being leveraged to foster community wellbeing targeting the ever-growing customer base of Westside walking in for yoga sessions - they enroll for a nominal monthly fee (& get a yoga mat free along with sessions by super instructors).

Eg., Sisters in Sweat , a sports-enthusiasts’ community run by a Start-up of the same name for grown up - Millennial / Gen z women who want to play sports including those conventionally touted for men - football, cricket, etc.

Community Screening & Treatment:

Eg., Healium Camps (Healium Futuristics Pvt Ltd.) , my social health venture where we try to convert health screenings into a fun event / fest you WANT to attend. We conduct on the spot screening, instant result, prescription & treatment (where applicable) programmes for communities of 30-2000 people in a single day / single location. From basic tests like anemia, diabetes, we also screen for heart health, breast cancer, oral cancer, ayurveda AI based Nadi Parikshan, CKD, refractive errors & amblyopia (vision) too all with instant results.

Community Mental Wellbeing:

Eg., Mindpeers , a mental wellness start-up that brings together individuals on their app - becoming part of clubs like “Anxious Overthinker”, “Learning Self Love”, etc. So while the coaching may still be one-on-one, the users can still connect with fellow users outside of the sessions depending upon their state of mind.

While some of these may be free to use and some paid, remember that your future self will save a lot more in economic, health, emotional, time, effort terms should you start to practice these today.

So take your #chainkisaans and join the movement.

Originally written for Daily Hunt & VerSeHealth PLus+

– Sakshie Rastogi

Co-Founder & CEO

Healium Camps | Healium Futuristics Pvt. Ltd.

[email protected]