When we first read or hear the phrase "Health Café," we have a lot of thoughts. In our daily lives, we associate the word "café" mostly with a setting where we may converse with friends while enjoying delectable food and beverages. Our "Health Café" is more than just a place to eat nutritious meals. It is a location where we provide nourishment for the mind, the soul, and the stomach.

Dr. Darshna Thakker (MD), a practising gynaecologist from Ahmedabad who has been involved in the field of women's healthcare and adolescent counselling for about 20 years, is the creator of this idea. She realised during her journey that, in addition to medical and surgical therapies, there was a critical need to focus on emotional health and preventive healthcare. Unfortunately, doctors' beliefs that therapy is a time waster and a waste of time are myths. In fact, according to Dr. Darshna, counselling is a one-time investment that will ultimately save both the doctor and the patient a lot of time. With the aid of presentations, charts, flyers, videos, audio clips, and other IEC material that she specifically created for patient awareness and patient education purposes, she has been able to effectively manage time in her 20 years of demanding clinical practise while providing counselling sessions that have a lasting impact.

She is overjoyed to play a part in bringing smiles to her patients' faces. In line with the WHO definition of health, which reads in part, "Health is a complete state of well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity," she has a vision for health café to create a healthier society for all people in general as opposed to just women's healthcare (Obstetrics and Gynecology). It is a more extensive form of medical and surgical care, where disease management and pre- and post-surgical consultations must include carefully listening to patients and their families and providing them with scientific information that answers all of their questions while taking into account the worry, apprehension, and emotions of  the affected individuals and their near dear ones.

Beyond physical health, Health Cafe is a division of Health Management. It is a special idea that she had expanded it beyond the four walls that she had constructed the café between. Anywhere, whenever the need arises, a Health Café can be established. In her "Health Café," she had made an effort to spread positivity and good health to everyone we encounter.

We all take care to cure even the slightest wounds or scratches that are clearly apparent on our bodies, as stated by the WHO: "Health is a complete condition of physical, mental and social well-being, and not only the absence of sickness or disability." We take all required precautions to prevent further discomfort, including cleaning it up with an antiseptic solution, using ointment, and so on. But do we treat our emotional wounds? Our minds are deeply affected by the scars that are not visible anyplace on our bodies yet nonetheless give us great suffering.

This Health Café will provide share-up sessions and individualised medical counselling at the health café in addition to a variety of workshops and support group activities. These activities will assist in recognising and then resolving the wounds that continue to affect us in the form of resentment, guilt, and dread, as well as negatively impact our general health.

In this Health café things are kept really simple, the counseling session here is sharing a cup of coffee with your friend and your friend /philosopher/guide for that time is our doctor who would listen you and pat your back.

Through video conferencing and electronic consultations, this health cafe also provides services electronically. Beyond all of that, we continue to share uplifting words and advice for leading healthy lives on our website and Facebook page.

According to her, there are many GURUS all around us who can lead us. We need a management guru to teach us management books and courses about how to handle our finances and other resources. We need a motivational guru to give us the push we need to get up and take action. 

But how about having someone who would guide you on simple things that matter in your everyday life. Someone who would help you align your emotions and energies with your actions, who would unconditionally keep on taking up different roles of a listener, a healer, a guide, a friend and a GURU.