A few small changes, and my whole outlook shifted...
My life has been nothing short of a tragedy. At 66, I’ve seen more loss than most. My husband passed away suddenly from a heart attack, and just six months later, my elder son—unable to cope with the grief—met the same fate. Losing both broke me in ways I can’t even begin to explain. But I carry on, for my daughter and son-in-law, with whom I now live. We try to get by with whatever little we can earn, counting every rupee, cutting every corner.
In such a life, falling sick isn’t an option. We simply cannot afford it—not emotionally, not financially. Even a simple illness can mean a trip to a clinic that might cost ₹1000 or more—a sum that shakes our already fragile budget.
Then one day, Pavithra walked into our community. A young woman with a warm smile and a mission—to teach us small but powerful habits that could prevent illness. At first, I’ll be honest, we chuckled. The tips sounded so basic—almost too simple to matter. But as she spoke, something shifted.
She asked us: “Do you use a ladle to take water from your pot?”
We looked at each other. No, we didn’t. We were always in a hurry. We just dipped the glass directly into the pot. No one thought twice about it. But then she explained how these small actions—these overlooked moments of carelessness—were the very reasons germs found their way into our bodies.
Handwashing was another. Yes, we knew we should wash our hands. But we didn’t really do it the right way, or at the right times. Pavithra gently reminded us—before eating, after using the toilet, after handling waste... We needed to use soap, not just water. It seemed obvious once she said it, but we’d never really put it into practice.
And that’s the thing about behaviour change—it’s not about learning something new; it’s about finally doing what we already know.
Now, her words echo in my ears. They’ve become a part of my daily rhythm. I notice these little habits not just in myself, but in others too. When I visit someone and see them doing things the old way, I gently speak up. I’ve become something of a health ambassador in my own small circle. Because now I know—these tiny habits can make the difference between staying healthy and being bedridden.
I often tell others what Pavithra told us: “Prevention is not just better than cure—it’s cheaper, kinder, and smarter too.”
She didn’t just teach us hygiene. She gave us ownership over our health, a sense of control we had long forgotten we could have. And for someone like me, who’s lost so much, that feeling is priceless.
