Pune: From painted village walls to viral reels, India’s public health messaging is undergoing a makeover.A 24-year-old nursing student of a Sangli college got absorbed in creating an out-of-the-box reel to create awareness about tuberculosis, as the state on Wednesday announced Maharashtra’s “Tuberculosis-Free India” reel competition for nurses and nursing students. The state public health department and Trained Nurses’ Association of India, Maharashtra branch, are its organisers.Dr Nilima Sonawane, deputy director of health services (nursing), said, “The younger nurses are tech savvy. They know how to shoot and edit videos. We see a lot of misinformation being propagated in the social media. So, we thought why not use the content made by our nurses, who will give accurate information. They are closest to the public and understand public queries.”She said, “We want to use their skills and information for the betterment of society. The initiative places nurses, not influencers, at the centre of digital communication, drawing on their experience to address TB symptoms, testing, treatment, nutrition, adherence and stigma. It will also ensure that the accurate information reaches the masses without creating fear or an unnecessary hype.”Dr Sonawane said, “Our nurses will use the local dialect, folklore or real-life stories. These will turn instruction into dialogue and help public retain the information longer than usual. Our nursing students have been making reels for various competitions. We observed that these were good content. With submissions closing on August 14, the campaign may signal a new language for public health communication and encourage healthcare workers to step up their game.”She said, “Nurses from over 100 nursing colleges have been told to participate in the reels competition. The best reels would be used for the govt IEC (information, education and communication) campaigns. The nurses would be awarded for the same.”Tuberculosis is not merely a matter of medical treatment. It is associated with social misconceptions, fear and stigma. Therefore, alongside providing accurate information about the disease, it is essential to raise public awareness regarding symptom recognition, timely testing, treatment adherence (without interruption), proper nutrition and the avoidance of discrimination against patients. This competition offers a creative opportunity to convey these points to the public through reels.Dr Bhagwan Pawar, deputy director, in charge of public health department IEC, said, “This approach transforms health messages from mere ‘preaching’ into a dialogue connected to people’s daily lives. The initiative creates a unique synergy by combining the experience of nurses working in the field, the digital creativity of the youth and the vast reach of social media.”Pawar said, “This is a significant step towards a tuberculosis-free Maharashtra and India. It should not be viewed merely as a ‘reel competition’, but rather as the beginning of a new language for public health awareness. After the creativity of nursing students merges with the power of social media, these reels can truly carry the message of tuberculosis eradication to every household.”
