I am excited to apply for the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025 as a participant and poster presenter being a young woman researcher. As a passionate researcher in the Public Health field, I am eager to engage with leading scientists and peers to exchange innovative ideas and deepen my understanding of transformative advancements that have the potential to create a seismic shift in the scientific arena. The interdisciplinary and intersectional nature of public health encourages a holistic comprehension of health including the associating environmental, socioeconomic, technological, and political factors which I am passionate about.

My research in the ‘Knowledge and attitude of Tuberculosis in urban slums of Kathmandu’ aims to equip stakeholders and policy makers with critical insights to combat TB in vulnerable populations susceptible to TB infection and transmission. This project has honed my analytical, technical, and ethical skills, while reinforcing my commitment to equitable health solutions. Presenting my findings will let me contribute meaningfully to the forum and gain expert feedback to refine my work.

Additionally, the forum’s interdisciplinary ethos aligns perfectly with my passion for holistic health approaches. I am excited to collaborate with diverse scholars, absorb innovative methodologies, and explore intersections between science and societal impact.

Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical public health challenge, disproportionately affecting marginalised communities, including urban slum dwellers. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to TB among residents of Kathmandu’s slums—a high-risk group due to overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare access. Despite Nepal’s National Strategic Plan to eliminate TB by 2050, there exists large gaps in evidence especially in vulnerable populations, hindering targeted interventions.

Using a cross-sectional, community-based design, adults across randomly selected slum settlements in Kathmandu Metropolitan City are surveyed. Structured questionnaires evaluate socio-demographic correlates, TB awareness, stigma perceptions, and health-seeking behaviors. Preliminary evidence suggests slum residents face elevated TB risks (2.96× higher smear-positive TB incidence than national averages), the risks aggravated by low literacy and inadequate healthcare access.

The major challenges to health equity is often the lack of relevant data followed by lack of evidence based interventions. This study aims to assess the current knowledge, attitude and practices around Tuberculosis including identification of their sociodemographic predictors. Findings will empower policymakers to design culturally tailored, equity-focused interventions for slum communities, advancing global TB eradication goals. By presenting this work, I seek to amplify underrepresented voices in public health discourse and foster collaborative solutions.