ASHA Program Essay

1.2.3.1 Spread and Responsibilities of ASHA Workers

According to an estimate, there were over 8.5 lakh ASHA workers in the country in July 2012. The ASHA worker shoulders a tremendously heavy responsibility in materializing the dream of the NRHM, whose proper and effective implementation depends on these women. Their capabilities determine the success of the programme that rests heavily upon interpersonal and community-based participation in achieving good health by improving the health-seeking behavior of people in the rural and tribal areas.

Not only those mentioned above, but the ASHA workers also have to shoulder serious responsibilities to improve the quality of rural health and ensure that the NRHM’s national health and population policies

Besides this, they are also motivating women to undergo sterilisation and immunization of children. Another important contribution by them is towards motivating people to build household toilets in the villages (GoK, 2010).

The Objectives of the ASHA programme are as follows:

♦ Create awareness on health and its social determinants

♦ Mobilize the community towards local health planning

♦ Increase utilization and accountability of the existing health services ♦ Promote good health practices

♦ Provide a minimum package of curative care as appropriate and feasible for that level and

♦ Undertake timely referrals

The ASHA worker is responsible for the following:

Mobilizing the community and help the people particularly pregnant and lactating women to the Primary Health Centres to receive health services available at the Anganwadi/Sub-center/primary health centers.

Assisting the Village Health & Sanitation Committee of the Gram Panchayat in developing a comprehensive village health plan.

Providing primary medical care for minor ailments such as diarrhea, fever, and first aid for minor injuries and to work as provider of DOTS under