Women and children in rural areas in India do not have access to proper health care facilities which results in an increase in fatality rates. But the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) foundation has been doing a brilliant and commendable job of being the bridge between the women and the health care system. The ASHA foundation consists of one million women workers and volunteers who have been given the responsibility of motivating women to give birth in hospitals, bringing their children to get immunised regularly and spreading awareness about family planning among others. This organisation is affiliated with the Indian government. On May 22, the ASHA foundation was awarded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its hard work amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As per reports, the volunteers were awarded for their door-to-door checks of tracing patients who have contracted COVID-19. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, announced six awards for the ASHA volunteers to recognise their hard work. They were awarded during the World Health Organisation Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Awards ceremony.
Taking to their Twitter account, WHO said, “The Accredited Social Health Activist Workers (ASHA) are more than 1 million female volunteers in #India, honored for their crucial role in linking the community with the health system and ensuring that those living in rural poverty can access primary health care services.”
ASHA – means 'hope' in Hindi. These health workers provide maternal care & immunization for children against vaccine-preventable diseases; community health care; treatment for hypertension & tuberculosis & core areas of health promotion for nutrition, sanitation & healthy living pic.twitter.com/uId27EqjO1
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 22, 2022
They also wrote, “ASHA – means ‘hope’ in Hindi. These health workers provide maternal care & immunization for children against vaccine-preventable diseases; community health care; treatment for hypertension & tuberculosis & core areas of health promotion for nutrition, sanitation & healthy living.”
Also read: NFHS-5 Says Indian Men Want Woman To Be Responsible For Contraception But Will Slut-Shame Those Who Practise Safe Sex
The WHO chief also went on to say that when the world is facing inequity, conflict, and food insecurity along with climate crisis and the pandemic, this award is for those who have made ‘outstanding contribution’ in promoting health around the globe.
Image courtesy – WHO Twitter handle
Survey Shows India Is Experiencing The ‘Greatest Resignation’ As 20 Million Women Have Resigned