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Director’s Foreword

Hello Changemakers!
Welcome to Healthcomm, a place where human stories take centre stage in our approach to improving community health and wellbeing through the power of communication.

Allow me to illustrate. Imagine Pekan Manis, a small town with a high number of diabetes cases. People’s daily routines include desserts and sweetened drinks at every mealtime. Gatherings and celebrations would not be complete without teh tarik and cendol durian. Despite being aware of the dangers of diabetes, the people of Pekan Manis find it hard to cut sugar from their diet. Having diabetes is accepted as a rite of passage of growing old.

So how can we help this community?

Instead of carrying out a generic campaign that solely relies on health talks and posters to ‘educate’, we engage with the communities themselves to understand the barriers and motivations behind dietary behaviours. We explore local norms and activities that could garner participation and improve people’s confidence in their ability to prevent diabetes. We tap into people’s behavioural drivers to reduce sugar in food and design communication materials that are tailored to their logic. We work with community leaders, local kuih sellers, and cooks to create a supportive environment where people can access healthier options. With the right communication technology and platforms, messages are delivered consistently to help reinforce new beliefs and gently nudge behaviours.

Slowly, community-led healthy cooking classes begin to fill up. More people start asking for a “kurang manis” [less sweet] version of food and drinks at stalls. Serving plain water at kenduri [receptions] becomes a commendable practice. It is not just about improving knowledge, it is about shifting norms in a respectful and strategic manner.

At Healthcomm, this is the kind of change we believe in. We believe in harnessing local wisdom and leadership to empower communities to make better health decisions. We have seen, time and time again, how a carefully curated message, shared in the right way, can inspire action, influence behaviours, and guide communities towards better health. Communication is not just a tool, it plays a key role in making that change possible.

That is why our work in Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) goes far beyond campaigns and slogans. We develop evidence-based strategies, design meaningful training, support academic learning, and collaborate with a wide range of partners, from policymakers to community leaders, researchers to frontliners. And most importantly, we listen, because real change begins with understanding.

Our strongest ideas are co-created together with the multiple stakeholders we aim to serve. We embrace diversity and challenge standard approaches as we build health interventions grounded in real needs, real voices, and real experiences.

As you explore this site, I invite you to discover the stories, the people, and the passion that drive Healthcomm forward. Whether you are here to learn, collaborate, or create change in your own community, we are glad you are here.

Because the change you want to see starts with YOU.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emma Mirza Wati Mohamad

Director