As part of the NIHR-GHRC Multiple Long-Term Conditions programme, HRIDAY conducted a series of storytelling workshops across three sites Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and Kathmandu (Nepal) to document lived experiences of people living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) and strengthen community voice within the CEI framework.

In Jodhpur, sessions were held at Beru Primary Health Centre (PHC) (28 April 2026) and Phinch PHC (29 April 2026), engaging Community Champions and network members. Participants were guided through structuring narratives around their illness journeys, care access challenges, and coping strategies; initial hesitation gave way to open sharing as trust built through facilitated discussion and rehearsal. Recurring themes included financial strain, gaps in continuity of care, and the psychosocial burden of chronic illness.

In Visakhapatnam, a storytelling workshop was conducted at Nathavaram Pilot PHC (21 July 2026), where people living with MLTCs shared experiences of accessing healthcare and managing their conditions.

In Kathmandu, Nepal (23 August 2026), a storytelling workshop was conducted, the session was well received, with participants engaging enthusiastically in sharing their stories, making it a positive and engaging experience.

Across all three sites, the workshops generated rich, experience-based narratives that will inform wider CEI interventions, while strengthening rapport between communities and the project team.