Ruban

My name is Ruban Panchavarnam, and I am the Volunteer District Manager of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Born and raised in Trincomalee, I witnessed from a young age how some of our relatives and friends passed away from heart attacks or other illnesses that could have been detected early. One moment that especially shaped me was finding my own father unconscious. Looking back, I keep asking myself: Why isn’t basic health knowledge and prevention accessible to everyone? This lack of awareness can cost lives—and that’s exactly where I want to make a difference. My goal is to promote education and medical prevention in our communities so that people can take care of their health early and take the necessary steps. Everyone should have the basic knowledge to save lives—whether through first aid or health awareness. “Health knowledge should not be a privilege, but a right for all.”