ABSTRACT:
The primary health care system in Bangladesh has its challenges, it is suffering from shortages of resource, governance weaknesses, workforce gaps, and all over Bangladesh this delivery of service varies in quality1. Community-based and culturally responsive health promotion approaches are essential to address these gaps and advance health equity. On 10 April 2025 the public health foundation, Bangladesh organized a day-long community-based public health fair named Jonoshasthya Mela in a rural village of Munshiganj district, Bangladesh. A multidisciplinary team of public health professionals and volunteers traveled from Dhaka and delivered services from 9am to 4pm. Clinical consultations were provided by 4 physicians from different disciplines. Health screenings were conducted by trained volunteers. Four physiotherapists provided rehabilitation services. Seven health education sessions were conducted and a school-based health quiz engaged adolescents. The intervention involved collaboration among 11 organizations and a workforce of 80 personnel including local organizers. Approximately 400 village residents received health services. Evaluation data were collected using structured questionnaires from organizers and community participants. The evaluation included responses from 48 organizers and 150 community participants. Among organizers 63% rated planning and coordination as good to excellent and 75% reported the venue as fully appropriate. Collaboration with partners was rated very effective by 65% while community engagement was identified as a challenge by 46%. Among participants 78% attended a health-fair for the first time. Service quality was rated excellent or good by 91%. Health learning gains were reported by 79% and 76% reported increased confidence in managing their own health. Overall success was rated very successful or good by 91% of participants. Jonoshasthya Mela demonstrates a low-cost scalable and replicable public health fair model that integrates preventive service delivery health education and community engagement, contributes to strengthening primary public health systems and advancing health equity in rural and resource-limited settings.