On August 25, 2024, Songtaba, in collaboration with the Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA), organized a vibrant community engagement in Kulnyavilla to raise awareness on healthy diets and advocate for gender-fair food policies. The event was held under the Healthier Diets for Healthy Lives (HD4HL) project and brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including community members, women’s groups, youth leaders, health professionals, and local authorities.
The engagement focused on educating the community about the link between nutrition and health, particularly the role of healthy diets in preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, stroke, hypertension, cancer, and respiratory conditions. Presenters emphasized the growing public health burden posed by poor diets and underscored the need for urgent policy interventions to address it.
More importantly, the conversation highlighted the unequal access to nutritious food among women and marginalized groups. Discussions centered on how food-based policies can be designed and implemented to be gender-sensitive and equitable—ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender or socioeconomic status, can access healthy and affordable food.
The session provided a platform for community members to share their views and lived experiences on food access and nutrition. Many participants expressed concern over the affordability of healthy foods, the influence of unhealthy food advertising, and the limited availability of nutritious options in their markets. Health professionals present at the event echoed the need for stronger policies, not just education, to shift behavior and improve public health outcomes. They called for local and national action to support dietary change, especially among women and young people.
The engagement concluded with a collective call for gender-fair, food-based policies. Stakeholders pledged their support for ongoing advocacy and emphasized the importance of including community voices in shaping nutrition-related policies.
Songtaba and CAPHA reaffirmed their commitment to advancing evidence-based interventions that promote healthier diets, reduce health disparities, and empower communities through inclusive engagement.
