Murals turn Meghalaya's public spaces into permanent vaccine awareness platforms

ROOPAK GOSWAMI

Shillong, June 7: In an innovative effort to tackle vaccine hesitancy and improve routine immunisation coverage, community spaces across Meghalaya are being transformed into permanent health communication platforms through vaccination awareness murals.

The initiative, led by Tattva Foundation in collaboration with local communities and health authorities, has brought colourful vaccination-themed wall paintings to key public locations in East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills districts. The murals have been created at a primary health centre in Sakwang village in South West Khasi Hills, a bus stand in Mawsynram Block of East Khasi Hills, and a community hall in Mawshynrut Block of West Khasi Hills.

The artwork promotes the Government of India’s “5 Saal, 7 Baar” immunisation message and encourages parents to complete their children’s vaccination schedules.

Unlike conventional awareness drives that rely on periodic meetings or short-term campaigns, the murals are designed to provide continuous reminders in places where residents regularly gather and access public services. The paintings simplify key vaccination information, address common concerns and reinforce the importance of timely immunisation.

Project organisers said the aim is to make health messages a visible part of everyday community life, ensuring that awareness efforts continue long after formal outreach activities have ended. The mural initiative is planned across six districts of Meghalaya, with the current installations serving as part of a broader effort to strengthen vaccine awareness and routine immunisation uptake across the state.

By choosing high-visibility locations such as health facilities, transport hubs and community spaces, the initiative seeks to keep vaccine-related information accessible to parents, caregivers and community elders. The mural at the Sakwang Primary Health Centre targets families visiting healthcare services. At the same time, the artwork at the Mawsynram bus stand and the Mawshynrut community hall reaches a broader cross-section of residents during their daily activities.

Public health experts have long identified sustained community engagement and repeated exposure to health information as critical factors in overcoming vaccine hesitancy and improving uptake of routine immunisation services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

By turning ordinary walls into health communication tools, the initiative aims to foster community ownership of immunisation efforts while creating a lasting visual reminder of the importance of protecting children against preventable diseases. The murals are expected to remain permanent fixtures in the communities, continuing to raise awareness long after the completion of formal vaccination campaigns.

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