On April 10th, the quiet village of Kamargaon in Munshiganj witnessed a rare and beautiful transformation. What is usually a peaceful stretch of fields and schools came alive with energy, compassion, and purpose; as healthcare professionals, students, volunteers, and locals came together to stand for one powerful cause: promoting health and wellness in rural communities.
In celebration of Global Public Health Day, the Public Health Foundation Bangladesh (PHFBD) led a remarkable initiative; a day-long Public Health Fair, affectionately titled in Bangla, âāĻāĻ¨āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§āĻĨā§āĻ¯ āĻŽā§āĻ˛āĻž: āĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻŽā§āĻŖ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§āĻĨā§āĻ¯, āĻāĻžāĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ§āĻŋāĨ¤â
A Day That Left a Mark
From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the campus of Kamargaon Ideal High School became a dynamic center of healing and learning. With over 400 community members receiving services and engaging in sessions, the day was filled with tangible impact.
Free health screenings, interactive training, and awareness campaigns unfolded seamlessly thanks to the thoughtful efforts of dedicated organizers and volunteers. Ten colorful health stalls buzzed with activityâfrom blood pressure checks to physiotherapy consultations, from oral screenings to eye exams. Every smile, every handshake, every question asked was a step closer to healthier futures.
Special consultation rooms for gynecology and dermatology ensured privacy and comfort for those seeking care, reminding us that dignity should always walk hand in hand with service.
Education that Empowered
Health education wasnât confined to leaflets or talks. It was immersive, participatory, and deeply relevant to local needs. Classrooms turned into learning zones where students and community members took part in seven powerful awareness sessions, each grounded in empathy and action.
Hereâs what they explored:
- Tide Turners Plastic Challenge Campaign (āĻāĻžāĻāĻĄ āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§āĻ¸ āĻĒā§āĻ˛āĻžāĻ¸ā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ˛ā§āĻā§āĻ)
By Probha Aurora
A bold call to youth to take charge of environmental sustainability. - Healthy Lifestyle for Youth Empowerment (āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°ā§āĻŖā§āĻ¯ā§āĻ° āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻļā§ āĻ¸ā§āĻ¸ā§āĻĨ āĻā§āĻŦāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻž)
By SMART Healthcare & Research Ltd
A journey into how daily habits shape long-term health and potential. - Letâs Talk Mental Health: Self-Love Is Not Selfish (āĻāĻ¸ā§ āĻŽāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻŋ, āĻ¨āĻŋāĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻžāĻ˛ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻž āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻĒāĻ°āĻ¤āĻž āĻ¨āĻ¯āĻŧ)
By PHFBD
A tender and necessary reminder that caring for our minds is not a luxuryâitâs a right. - Oral Health Protection Training (āĻŽā§āĻā§āĻ° āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§āĻĨā§āĻ¯ āĻ¸ā§āĻ°āĻā§āĻˇāĻž āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻļāĻŋāĻā§āĻˇāĻŖ)
By Refugee Crisis Foundation & Marks Dental College Unit
Teaching the importance of oral hygiene in a fun and accessible way. - Adolescent Girlsâ Health (āĻāĻŋāĻļā§āĻ°ā§ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§āĻĨā§āĻ¯)
By BSMMUâs Dept. of Public Health & Informatics
A space where young girls could learn, question, and share without fear. - Smart Use of Antibiotics Reflects Wisdom (āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāĻā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ āĻŋāĻ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°, āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āĻ§āĻŋāĻŽāĻ¤ā§āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻ°āĻŋāĻāĻ¯āĻŧ)
By One Health & AMR Initiative, RISK
Empowering communities to use medicines wisely and avoid resistance. - Break the Silence, End the Violence (āĻ¨ā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻ¤āĻž āĻāĻžāĻāĻŋ, āĻ¸āĻšāĻŋāĻāĻ¸āĻ¤āĻž āĻ°ā§āĻāĻŋ: āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋ āĻ¸āĻšāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻŦ!)
By Bangladesh Medical Studentsâ Society
A powerful session that opened eyes to gender-based violence and the importance of empathy.
Learning Beyond the Lectures
The heart of the fair beat strongest in the classrooms, where targeted sessions catered to different age groups:
- Adolescent boys explored mental health and emotional intelligence.
- Adolescent girls received education on menstrual hygiene and self-care.
- Junior students were introduced to oral hygiene through fun activities.
- Senior students tackled pressing issues like gender-based violence, AMR, and plastic waste.
And letâs not forget the quiz competition that brought joy, excitement, and a healthy dose of learningâwith prizes to celebrate those who shone brightest!
A Shared Table, A Shared Purpose
At noon, a Policy-Level Health Leader inaugurated the fair with a call for continued commitment to rural health. As guests toured the stalls and classrooms, the energy was infectious.
Lunch was served at 1:30 PM, prepared with love by localsâan act that symbolized the true nature of the event: community at the center. A relaxed afternoon tea at 3:30 PM gave everyone a moment to breathe, reflect, and connect.
The Power of Partnership
This fair was not the work of one group, but a collective dream realized by many. The list of collaborators speaks to the scale and spirit of the effort:
- Public Health Foundation Bangladesh (PHFBD)
- Smart Healthcare & Research Ltd
- Bikrampur Rotary Club
- BSMMU â Dept. of Public Health & Informatics
- Bangladesh Medical Studentsâ Society (BMSS)
- Probha Aurora
- Refugee Crisis Foundation (RCF)
- Marks Dental College
- One Health & AMR Initiative, RISK (Research & Implementation Science for Knowledge)
- Health Systems Matter
- Rotary Volunteers and Local Youth Leaders
Looking Ahead with Hope
The Kamargaon Public Health Fair was more than a day of services. It was a symbol of health equity, a testament to youth-led energy, and a reminder that rural voices matter.
It showed us whatâs possible when empathy meets actionâwhen health is brought not just to the doorstep, but delivered with respect, relevance, and care.
And while this fair has ended, the ripples it created will go onâin the questions it sparked, the knowledge it seeded, and the connections it deepened.
Because true public health starts not in hospitals, but in hearts and communities.
About the Author:
The author is a final-year medical student at Bangladesh Medical College and had the privilege of serving as the Social Media & Content Intern for the Public Health Fair. She remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful initiative.
You may reach her at: anika.totini@gmail.com