This presentation outlines the concept of the Community Health Meal and the proposals for an event in Carlisle on the 14th May 2016

1. the
‘Health Mela’
initiative

2. The initiative grew out of:
• an awareness amongst health professionals and leaders in the Preston Gujarati community of health inequalities
within local social and ethnic minority groups
• a conviction that involving the community in promoting its own health would help reduce these inequalities
• a search for an appropriate strategy to engage the community
• As a result of these concerns a steering group, the Lancashire Gujarat Health Users Forum, (now the National

4. The group looked to the traditional South
asian ‘Mela’ to provide an appealing
environment for health promotion

5. Mela is a Sanskrit word for
a festival involving:
• entertainment
• information exchange
• community involvement.

6. The first Health Mela was held in Preston
in 2002. It became an annual event soon
extending its influence way beyond its
initial focus on the Gujarat community.

7. The 12th Health Mela, held in the Guild
Hall in 2013, attracted over 2,000 visitors
of all ages and ethnicities.

8. A typical Health Mela
provides:
• a breakfast meeting
for invited guests,
addressing a topical
community health
issue

9. A typical Health Mela
provides:
• stalls representing
a wide range of
health providers -

10. A typical Health Mela
provides:
• activities for
children

11. A typical Health Mela
provides:
• taster sessions for
adults

12. A typical Health Mela
provides:
• entertainment
and refreshment.

13. Central to the day’s activities is
• a comprehensive selection of health
checks (the Health MOT) together
with appropriate advice and
counselling.

14. The ‘Health MOT’ is a particularly important
component of the Health Mela. It offers visitors
checks on:
• body mass index
• blood pressure
• cholesterol level
• blood glucose
• sight
• hearing.

15. • a comprehensive selection of health
checks (the Health MOT) together with
appropriate advice and counselling.

17. Examples of the ‘Health MOT’ results
from recent events:
• Leyland - 220 tests completed, 46
individuals advised to consult their GP.
• Preston – 247 tests completed, 65
individuals advised to consult their GP.

18. Nfhw has sought to
extend its range and
influence by establishing
collaboration with Rotary
International,
developing working
partnerships with local
Rotary Clubs.

19. The first joint NFHW/Rotary Health
Mela was organised in Leyland in 2012.

20. Support for the Health Melas, comes
from a number of sources including:
NHS trusts
local authorities
the Gujarat Hindu Society
universities
pharmaceutical companies
commercial organisations.
GHS

21. Nfhw also aims to
provide local health
professionals in
training with the
opportunity to
experience work in a
community led setting.
This activity is
endorsed by the
General Medical
Council.

22. Health Melas also provide a much
appreciated networking opportunity for
local health professionals.

23. The Preston team has provided advice
and support for the development of
Health Melas across the country
including those in:
Bradford
Bolton
London
Cardiff
Blackpool
Leyland.

24. Preston Health Mela
“I just wanted to congratulate you and your team on an excellent event.
It was nothing like I had expected! It was a fantastic, vibrant, dynamic,
diverse programme that brought together so many themes about health
management, ill health prevention and education. You and the team
should feel justifiably proud of pulling together such an excellent event
and I do hope you’ll invite me to be a part of it again next year.”
Karen Partington,
Chief Executive,
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust.

25. Preston Health Mela
‘Human rights are all about dignity, equal treatment and fairness, not unlike
the best traditions of the National Health Service. So it was a real honour and
joy to attend the Preston Health Mela and have the opportunity to talk about
the importance of respecting patients’ fundamental rights and freedoms in
the context of looking after them. As human rights protect us from abuses of
power, these values become especially important in the clinical setting where
people can be so vulnerable, disorientated and alone. . . . . . . . The Mela
itself is an extremely positive event in making the sometimes mystical world
of medicine more accessible to the whole community and to demonstrate and
celebrate humanity in healthcare.”
Shami Chakrabarti,
Director of ‘Liberty.’

26. Leyland Health Mela
‘This was an extraordinary event. There was a wide range of displays of the
work of a great number and diversity of NHS and charitable health bodies all
of whose representatives were giving their weekend time to talk about their
work. This was an astonishing display of total community involvement and
unity of purpose. . . .for a pathologist, the most striking part of the day was the
open access for the whole community to health checks. . . the Health Mela
means that people can access the skills of these people much more easily, with
fewer delays and less anxiety. Let’s hope such events increase in number and
spread further across the country.’
Dr Archie Prentice
President, Royal College of Pathologists

27. The Health
Mela Concept is
coming to
Carlisle

28. Taking over Carlisle City Centre
on Saturday 14th May

29. Using the Assembly Rooms for the
Health MOTs

30. Taking over the City Centre
on Saturday 14th May
With a number of “Streets”
hosting ……..
• Health & Wellbeing advice
• Complementary Therapies
• Listening Therapies
• Food & Cooking
• Gardening
• Exercise
• Music & Entertainment

31. Partners include;
• Sustainable Carlisle
• Carlisle City Council – Healthy City
• Carlisle Ambassadors
• The Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Cumbria CC, Public Health Team
• CFM
• Carlisle College

32. Team have been working on the project
since last Autumn

33. In addition to the
standard Mela activities
we hope to have
• A Fun Run
• Cycle Rides
• Carlisle FC / American Football
• Gardening
• Walking groups
• Buskers and Dancing

34. We still need
• Gazebos or Marquees
• Silent Generators and Electrics
• Sponsorship (Printing, Food, Entertainment)
And of Course
• Volunteers
• For the Planning Team
• On the day – stewarding & guiding, meeting & greeting,
promoting

35. Funding is from
• The First Response Global Grant
• In Kind Donations from Carlisle City Council and …….
• Bid to be submitted to Cumbria Community
Foundation

36. We are taking account of community and
personal issues that will still be around
following the floods.