I Learn for People and from People: NYIN Member Dr.Nikita Gupta

 

Dr. Nikita Gupta holds a dental degree and have pursued a career in public health as a health professional. Her educational background has equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle healthcare challenges. She has been exposed to various aspects of healthcare, from diagnosis and treatment to prevention and advocacy.

Her passion lies in health advocacy. She Says "believe that healthcare should be accessible and affordable for everyone, and my aim is to make that a reality. Through my work in public health, I have witnessed the impact that systemic issues, such as poverty and lack of education, can have on people's health. I am committed to fighting for equitable healthcare for all, regardless of socio-economic status."

Dr. Nkita focus on global health is rooted in her desire to make a positive impact beyond borders. She believes healthcare is a fundamental human right, and it should be a priority for governments around the world. She has experience of working with various NGOs and have seen firsthand the impact of public health initiatives on communities. It is her hope to continue this work and contribute towards the betterment of people's health globally.

Being a dentist, Dr.Nikita  has come across number of cancers of oral cavity which is caused due to tobacco use. She always wanted to be a part of such organization for tobacco control. Nada India Foundation provided her a platform for raising awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco, advocating for strong tobacco control laws and regulations, providing counseling and support for tobacco addicts, conducting research and data analysis on tobacco use and its impact on health and economy, conducting capacity building and training programs for healthcare professionals, and working towards creating a tobacco-free environment in schools, universities, and workplaces. It is to be noted that Nada India also works towards promoting healthy lifestyles through physical activity, healthy diet, and stress management. 

While at Nada India She worked mostly for tobacco cessation. She narrates " I was initially given a chance to work in a team of youths from Faridabad region to participate in cleanliness drive, campaigns and webinars which made me learn a lot. I was then involved in training group where we learnt the importance of training and many other aspects. I was then given a chance to be a panelist among biggest policy makers in a CTFK meet which was a life changing conference for me. I came to know about the viewpoints of bidi makers and farmers, media officials, hospital management team, and MPs, and MLAs, regarding the COTPA act and amendments. Also, the ground reality of tobacco uses and its side effects."

She wrote several tax letters to policy makers for COTPA amendments and worked under the guidance of Suneel Vatsayan, Pallavi Vatsayan, Akshay sharma, Mangal Singh and other team members. She was then given an opportunity to organize several webinars for Nada India and to participate in NYIN conferences. She says "Suneel sir always made me understand very calmly gave me courage to speak. I had a stage fear initially which was decreased with the continuous efforts by Suneel sir and Akshay sir. Suneel sir always encouraged." 

Dr.Nikita  approach was more patient centric. In her presentation shared the stories of different patients who were struggling with the consequences of tobacco use and how they were able to quit with the help of effective cessation strategies. She shared the story of a middle-aged man who had been smoking for more than 20 years and was recently diagnosed with a severe form of lung cancer. He shared how difficult it was to quit smoking but with the help of nicotine replacement therapy and counseling, he was able to successfully quit smoking and improve his health.

 Also shared the story of a young woman who was a heavy smoker and suffered from chronic bronchitis. She was motivated to quit smoking when she learned that she was pregnant. With the help of her healthcare provider and support from her family, she quit smoking and gave birth to a healthy baby.

By sharing these real-life examples, Dr. Nikita was able to emphasize the importance of tobacco cessation and how it can positively impact the lives of individuals and their loved ones. Moreover, it helped her `establish a deeper connection with my audience and encouraged them to take action to quit smoking. 

One major learning is the importance of active listening and empathy. Understanding the needs, desires, and challenges of individuals and communities enables us to create meaningful programs and initiatives. Moving forward, we must continue to prioritize listening and empathy in our interactions with others.  Another key learning is the power of collaboration and community engagement. Engaging community members and stakeholders in the planning and implementation of projects increases the quality and ensures that initiatives are sustainable. Moving forward, we must continue to prioritize collaboration and community engagement to ensure that development efforts are inclusive and effective.

Lastly, an important learning is the value of innovation and adaptability. In today's rapidly changing world, we must constantly explore new ideas and adapt our approaches to meet the evolving needs of communities and youth. Moving forward, we must continue to prioritize innovation and adaptability to create effective solutions to complex challenges.

To carry this forward in future as an individual for community and youth development, one can volunteer with local organizations and initiatives, attend workshops and conferences to stay informed about emerging trends and best practices, advocate for youth development policies and programs at the local and national level, and continue to engage with community members and stakeholders to listen and learn. Dr. Nikita adds that she would love to carry forward with Nada Young India Network (NYIN) by engaging herself whenever possible with various webinars and workshops organized by this organization.

For organizations, it is important to prioritize community engagement and collaboration, invest in staff development and training to promote innovation and adaptability, and ensure that programs and initiatives are designed with empathy and user-centered design principles. Organizations should seek to create a culture of listening, learning and growth, and continuously seek feedback from stakeholders to ensure that they are meeting the needs of communities and youth.

To sum up with her experience, Dr. Nikita has learned lot about COTPA ACT, stakeholders and their impacts, importance of community engagement and youth participation, working on various health aspects with community efforts.