ASHA: Govt’s rural health mission sees ray of hope

The mission has been allocated a budget of Rs 8,000 crore for the coming two years. The project is likely to start from December 1.

While the role of the woman, according to officials will be mostly promotion of healthcare, prevention of diseases will also be an important aspect. To be called ASHA, (Accredited Social Health Activist) a local resident of the village, with some standing in her community, will be identified by Panchayat, Auxillary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) and anganwadi workers of the village.

From managing the drug and contraceptive depot to monitoring the availibility of drugs in the primary health center, ASHA would be required to keep a record of deaths and births in the area. Allopathic and other alternate drugs would also be under her supervision and she would be instrumental in preparing the village health plan for implementation of the rural health programme. The health activist will be requitred to maintain a village health register and identify people with illness in the same.

The women will be given initial orientation to facilitate provision of basic healthcare and information about referring patients to proper health organisations. This will be besides the ‘on-job’ training. Accredition would follow after a year or two on the basis of her performance in the field.

The programme is likelt to be launched in 17 states, including the five EAG states such as Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa and the North-East States, and Jammu and Kashmir.

It will be later extended to all other states.

The rural health mission will include the national malaria and leprosy eradication, Kala Azhar, blindness and iodine deficiency programmes besides one for mother-and-child health.

Apart from a monthly allowance, AASHA will be eligible for a performance based renumeration which can go up to Rs 12,000 per annum.