HPT Health Rally 2025

Proclaiming the Power of Preventive Healthcare

November 27, 2025 was a memorable day for the Health Promotion Trust (HPT) as it celebrated its 12th Annual Health Rally during its 25th year of service to urban and rural communities. HPT has determinedly pursued its vision of "Healthcare for All" during these 25 years. 

The HPT Team was delighted to have Archbishop John Rodrigues gracing the occasion and lighting the inaugural lamp. While thanking the Archbishop for his immense support, HPT Director, Fr Rocky Banz emphasised HPT's paradigm shift over the past 25 years from curative to preventive health. In all HPT programmes, the people themselves are the chief protagonists in maintaining their personal health, which is critical to sustaining preventive health in the long term. Using this approach has been instrumental to HPT's success in educating diverse target groups across the socio-economic spectrum from the most impoverished communities to middle class parish groups. 

The audience enjoyed a riveting documentary film showcasing HPT's innovative interventions in the most remote villages of the archdiocese. The film spotlighted HPT's proactive role during the pandemic, and its dynamic response to the increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases. 

Prominent stakeholders enthusiastically shared their positive collaboration experiences with HPT:

• Prof. Sonia Rodrigues, College of Social Work Nirmala Niketan, shared examples of joint projects with HPT, namely, Pravas (working with senior citizens) and Spandhan (working with tribal children in the Dahanu belt).

• Mrs Rosy Noronha, a participant in HPT's Barefoot Counsellor programme, expressed her increased confidence after the training, enabling her to help the inmates at Vimala House, Versova, a house for lepers.

• HPT health worker, Mrs Damini Patel, described how her journey with HPT inspired her to serve as an arogya sevika in promoting traditional and sustainable practices of healthcare in various communities. 

• Members from the Uttan-Pali community praised HPT's preventive health interventions during the 2024-25 one-year preventive health module training programme.

A Programme that Entertained and Educated

• 27 HPT health workers performed a street play demonstrating key interventions in Raigad district.

• Barefoot health workers from Premdarshan Community Centre staged a musical representation of the need for holistic exercise to promote a sound body, mind and soul.

• Sr Vinaylata, Coordinator of the Suryoday Samaj Kendra, along with her group of HPT-trained workers, sang a melody that resonated with the essence of HPT's vision and mission. The lyrics portrayed the potential of preventive health training to combat the negative impact of rapid lifestyle changes.

Archbishop John Rodrigues released the second edition of Measures of Healthy Living – a much awaited follow up to the first edition. Archbishop John awarded 300 health workers their Barefoot Health worker certificates. Recipients included members of Suryodaya Samaj Kendra, Gorai; Ashakiran, Vakola; Senior Citizen groups from St Joseph Church, Juhu, Our Lady of Nazareth Church and Suraksha Mahila Vikas Kendra Community Centre of Infant Jesus Church.

An Invitation for Naturopathy Wellness

Please join HPT's Naturopathy Wellness Camps in Khandala in 2026: January 30–February 2, February 20–23, March 27–31, April 17–20, June 12–15, July 3–6, August 7–10, November 27–30.