An Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) is a community health worker employed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) as a part of India's National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).[1] The mission began in 2005; full implementation was targeted for 2012. The idea behind the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) was to connect marginalized communities to the health care system. The target was to have an "ASHA in every village" in India.[2] In July 2013, the number of ASHAs was reported to be 870,089.[3] In 2018, this number became 939,978. The ideal number of ASHAs envisaged was 1,022,265.[4]
ASHAs are women trained to act as health educators and health promoters in their communities. The Indian MoHFW describes them as:[5]
...health activist(s) in the community who create awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilize the community towards local health planning and increased utilization and accountability of the existing health services.
Their tasks include:
Motivating women to give birth in hospitals,
Bringing children to immunization clinics,
Encouraging family planning (e.g., surgical sterilization),
The tableau of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighting - 'Aasha' during the Republic Day Parade, 2006
Their responsibilities can be classified into:
Counseling:
Breast Feeding
Skilled birth attendance
Prevention of diseases
Community sensitization:
Health
Nutrition
Related government programs
Provision of drugs:
Malaria
Tuberculosis
Diarrhoea
Escort:
Ante- and Post-natal care
Institutional delivery
Immunization
Diabetes test
Family planning
Diagnosis
Malaria
Pregnancy
Survey of health and related events
Others
Community mobilization
Health planning
Participation in community health and allied activities
Selectionedit
ASHAs must primarily be female residents of the village that they have been selected to serve, who are likely to remain in that village for the foreseeable future.
Married, widowed or divorced women are preferred over women who are yet to marry, since Indian cultural norms dictate that, upon marriage, a woman leaves her home and/ or village and migrates to that of her husband.
ASHAs must have qualified up to the tenth grade; if there is no suitable literate candidate, this criterion may be relaxed.
They must preferably be between the ages of 25 and 45.
They are selected by and accountable to the gram panchayat (local government).[9]
Remunerationedit
Although ASHAs are considered volunteers, they receive outcome-based remuneration and financial compensation for training days. For example, if an ASHA facilitates an institutional delivery she receives ₹600 (US$7.50) and the mother receives ₹1,400 (US$18). ASHAs also receive ₹150 (US$1.90) for each child completing an immunization session and ₹150 (US$1.90) for each individual who undergoes family planning.[10] ASHAs are expected to attend a Wednesday meeting at the local primary health centre (PHC); beyond this requirement, the time ASHAs spend on their CHW tasks is relatively flexible.[citation needed]
An ASHA's monthly salary has two components:[citation needed]
A fixed component of Rs. 4,000/- (USD 53/- approximately), and
Incentives that vary from Rs. 5,000/- (USD 67/- approximately) to Rs. 8,000/- (USD 107 approximately), including a "COVID Bonus".
The average monthly salary comes to around Rs. 10,000/- (USD 133/- approximately).
Monitoring and Evaluation under National Rural Health Missionedit
A baseline survey was taken at the district level, for fixing decentralized monitoring goals and indicators. Community monitoring is at the village level. The Planning Commission is the ultimate agency for monitoring outcomes. External evaluation is taken up at regular intervals.[citation needed]
^(PDF), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2009
^, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, July 2013, archived from the original on 10 September 2019, retrieved 29 March 2021
^"National Health Mission: Update of ASHA programme" (PDF). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. January 2018. (PDF) from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
^National Institute of Health and Family Welfare. (2005) "Frequently Asked Questions on ASHA." Government of India. Accessed April 23, 2007
^Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). (2005c). ASHA.. Government of India. Accessed July 20, 2008, from . Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
^Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). (2005a). National Rural Health Mission: Mission Document. Government of India. Accessed July 1, 2008, from (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"About Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)". National Rural Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
^"About ASHA - Government of India". nhm.gov.in. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
^(PDF), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2005, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2007
January 01, 1970
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An Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA is a community health worker employed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW as a part of India s National Rural Health Mission NRHM 1 The mission began in 2005 full implementation was targeted for 2012 The idea behind the Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA was to connect marginalized communities to the health care system The target was to have an ASHA in every village in India 2 In July 2013 the number of ASHAs was reported to be 870 089 3 In 2018 this number became 939 978 The ideal number of ASHAs envisaged was 1 022 265 4 Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA CountryIndiaMinistryMinistry of Health and Family WelfareLaunched2005Status939 978 ASHA s 2018 Contents 1 Roles and responsibilities 2 Selection 3 Remuneration 4 Monitoring and Evaluation under National Rural Health Mission 5 See also 6 ReferencesRoles and responsibilities editASHAs are women trained to act as health educators and health promoters in their communities The Indian MoHFW describes them as 5 health activist s in the community who create awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilize the community towards local health planning and increased utilization and accountability of the existing health services Their tasks include Motivating women to give birth in hospitals Bringing children to immunization clinics Encouraging family planning e g surgical sterilization Treating basic illness and injury with first aid Keeping demographic records and Improving village sanitation 6 ASHAs also serve as a key communication mechanism between the healthcare system and rural populations 7 An ASHA acts as a depot holder for essential provisions being made available to all habitations like Oral Rehydration Salts ORS Therapy Iron Folic Acid IFA Tablets Chloroquine Disposable Delivery Kits DDK Oral Pills amp Condoms 8 nbsp The tableau of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighting Aasha during the Republic Day Parade 2006 Their responsibilities can be classified into Counseling Breast Feeding Skilled birth attendance Prevention of diseases Community sensitization Health Nutrition Related government programs Provision of drugs Malaria Tuberculosis Diarrhoea Escort Ante and Post natal care Institutional delivery Immunization Diabetes test Family planning Diagnosis Malaria Pregnancy Survey of health and related events Others Community mobilization Health planning Participation in community health and allied activitiesSelection editASHAs must primarily be female residents of the village that they have been selected to serve who are likely to remain in that village for the foreseeable future Married widowed or divorced women are preferred over women who are yet to marry since Indian cultural norms dictate that upon marriage a woman leaves her home and or village and migrates to that of her husband ASHAs must have qualified up to the tenth grade if there is no suitable literate candidate this criterion may be relaxed They must preferably be between the ages of 25 and 45 They are selected by and accountable to the gram panchayat local government 9 Remuneration editAlthough ASHAs are considered volunteers they receive outcome based remuneration and financial compensation for training days For example if an ASHA facilitates an institutional delivery she receives 600 US 7 50 and the mother receives 1 400 US 18 ASHAs also receive 150 US 1 90 for each child completing an immunization session and 150 US 1 90 for each individual who undergoes family planning 10 ASHAs are expected to attend a Wednesday meeting at the local primary health centre PHC beyond this requirement the time ASHAs spend on their CHW tasks is relatively flexible citation needed An ASHA s monthly salary has two components citation needed A fixed component of Rs 4 000 USD 53 approximately and Incentives that vary from Rs 5 000 USD 67 approximately to Rs 8 000 USD 107 approximately including a COVID Bonus The average monthly salary comes to around Rs 10 000 USD 133 approximately Monitoring and Evaluation under National Rural Health Mission editA baseline survey was taken at the district level for fixing decentralized monitoring goals and indicators Community monitoring is at the village level The Planning Commission is the ultimate agency for monitoring outcomes External evaluation is taken up at regular intervals citation needed See also editAuxiliary Nurse Midwife ANM Vikas yojna Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee ActReferences edit ASHA Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW 2005 archived from the original on 22 April 2009 National Rural Health Mission 2005 2012 Mission Document PDF Ministry of Health and Family Welfare archived from the original PDF on 12 June 2009 Update on the ASHA programme Ministry of Health and Family Welfare July 2013 archived from the original on 10 September 2019 retrieved 29 March 2021 National Health Mission Update of ASHA programme PDF Ministry of Health and Family Welfare January 2018 Archived PDF from the original on 15 July 2019 Retrieved 14 May 2021 National Institute of Health and Family Welfare 2005 Frequently Asked Questions on ASHA Government of India Accessed April 23 2007 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW 2005c ASHA Government of India Accessed July 20 2008 from About ASHA Archived from the original on 22 April 2009 Retrieved 22 May 2009 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW 2005a National Rural Health Mission Mission Document Government of India Accessed July 1 2008 from Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 12 June 2009 Retrieved 2009 05 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link About Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA National Rural Health Mission Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Archived from the original on 8 July 2015 Retrieved 14 May 2015 About ASHA Government of India nhm gov in Retrieved 20 February 2018 Reading Material for ASHA PDF Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 2005 archived from the original PDF on 27 October 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Accredited Social Health Activist amp oldid 1221045521, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
