FHTS – A Confidence Booster Like No Other – Shravani Rajkhowa

When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else” – Toni Morrison, Novelist.

As I am part of the Team Foundation of Healthcare Technologies Society (FHTS) now, I can relate to these empowering words of one of my beloved novelists, Toni Morrison, and therefore I truly believe that FHTS has helped me gain a newfound sense of empowerment, confidence, and purpose. I am excited to share my experience at FHTS, a remarkable journey that has broadened my horizons and bolstered my self-confidence in ways I never imagined. Working alongside a brilliant mind like Dr. Ashish Joshi, (Founder of FHTS and Dean and Distinguished University Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Memphis, TN, USA) I learned that addressing healthcare challenges requires a multifaceted approach that combines technology, education, and community engagement.

Swasthya Pahal- “Health for All”is an initiative undertaken by FHTS, launched in the year 2012, which aims to improve healthcare access and quality across communities. Being a part of this initiative is an eye-opening experience that redefines my understanding of healthcare and its delivery daily. Swasthya Pahal is a sustainable, affordable, interactive, multi-lingual, lifestyle modification along with personalized counselling and self-manageable healthcare solution that reaches every corner of society, and I have the privilege of contributing to this noble endeavor.

I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of professionals, each driven by a shared passion for research in community initiatives and an understanding of Public Health Interventions. Together, we visited urban slums and collaborated with Uttarakhand and Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services, Indian Postal Service, Old Age Homes, Residential Colonies, Delhi Transport Corporation, Primary Health Centers, and Corporate Offices to implement self-management of Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs) and proper nutrition intake through our innovative SMAART Framework that provides individualized lifestyle counselling based on tailored SMAART health cards generated for each beneficiary.Witnessing the positive impact Swasthya Pahal has on the lives of more than 14000 beneficiaries and their families across 8 different states in India namely, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand. Swasthya Pahal’s 11 years of success shows that by amalgamation of community initiative with digital health interventions, we can create not only a responsive healthcare ecosystem to address the unique needs of local communities but also leverage the advantages of digital tools for improved access, efficiency, and patient outcomes, paving the way for a healthier and more connected society.

Apart from being a part of Swasthya Pahal, the Academic Core here at FHTS has taken a leap of faith as it helped me achieve one of the most significant personal milestones, which was to step into the role of an academic instructor. FHTS believes that research and education is the key to innovation and sustainable change in healthcare, and I was entrusted with the responsibility of mentoring a group of eager students. It was both an exhilarating and challenging experience.

My roles have strengthened my commitment to making a positive impact on healthcare and have given me the confidence to continue exploring new opportunities. I am looking forward to the future with renewed vigor, knowing that the lessons and experiences gained at FHT will continue to shape my path in the healthcare sector.