Model Question and Answers for APSC | Discuss significance of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers and challenges faced by them. ASHA workers are volunteers from within the community who are trained to provide information and aid people in accessing the benefits of various healthcare schemes of the government. They act as a bridge connecting marginalised communities with facilities such as primary health centres, sub-centres and district hospita

Discuss significance of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers and challenges faced by them. ASHA workers are volunteers from within the community who are trained to provide information and aid people in accessing the benefits of various healthcare schemes of the government. They act as a bridge connecting marginalised communities with facilities such as primary health centres, sub-centres and district hospitals. The role of these community health volunteers under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was first established in 2005. There are around 10.4 lakh ASHA workers across the country. ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers have received the Global Health Leaders Award-2022 in the backdrop of the 75th World Health Assembly. They were named a “Guardian of the Year” by Time magazine in

Nov 5, 2022 - 21:08 Updated: Nov 5, 2022 - 21:16

Ans:

Significance of ASHA workers:

They create awareness about health determinants by providing information to the people about nutrition, basic sanitation & hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions, etc.
ASHA counsels women on birth preparedness, safe delivery’s importance, breastfeeding, contraception, immunization, child care and prevention of Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Infection (RTIs/STIs).
ASHA provides primary medical care for minor disorders like fever, diarrhoea and minor injuries.
They also keep the sub-centres/primary health centres informed about births and deaths in their village and any disease outbreaks/unusual health concerns in the community.

Challenges faced by an ASHA worker:

They are not having a fixed income for their work. A fixed income would give them stability in a job where they spend between eight to twelve hours daily.
ASHA workers are recognised as “volunteers” currently: Recognising ASHA workers as “workers” allows them dignity and protection, and helps them to be taken seriously — by the state, the gram panchayat responsible for the disbursal of our funds, and patients.
Lack of information: this is one of the biggest issues facing rural health preoccupied with the fear of separation and quarantine, ASHA workers were accused of “getting them caught” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Communication: Channels of communication between the government and the rural population need to be robust.
Lack of resources: Medical facilities are understaffed and lack adequate equipment for basic life-saving procedures like deliveries.

Way forward:

These kinds of recognitions have given them some leverage to circumvent the system and seek funds for people in my community.
Giving ASHA workers due recognition would help them to work on the ground and connect with people.