>DiplomatTesterMan at 10:09, 14 May 2021

2021-05-14T10:09:01Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Update|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox project
| abbreviation = ASHA
| country = India

| launched = 2005
| ministry = [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]]
|current_status=939,978 ASHA's (2018)}}
An '''accredited social health activist''' ('''ASHA''') is a [[community health worker]] instituted by the [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]] (MoHFW) as a part of India's [[National Rural Health Mission]] (NRHM).<ref>{{citation |publisher=[[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]] (MoHFW) |date=2005 |title=ASHA |url=http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/asha.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422204352/http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/asha.htm |archive-date=22 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The mission began in 2005; full implementation was targeted for 2012. Once fully implemented, there is to be "an ASHA in every village" in India.<ref>{{citation|title=National Rural Health Mission 2005–2012: Mission Document|url=http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/Documents/NRHM%20Mission%20Document.pdf|df=dmy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612060846/http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/Documents/NRHM%20Mission%20Document.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Health and Family Welfare|archive-date=12 June 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2013, the total number of ASHAs in India was reported to be 870,089.<ref>{{citation|title=Update on the ASHA programme|date=July 2013|url=http://www.nhsrcindia.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910123938/http://nhsrcindia.org/|publisher=Ministry of Health and Family Welfare|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=10 September 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018 the number of ASHAs were 939,978. The ideal number of ASHAs is 1,022,265.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 2018|title=National Health Mission: Update of ASHA programme|url=http://www.nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/ASHA%20Update%20Jan%202018.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=14 May 2021|website=Ministry of Health and Family Welfare}}</ref>

==Roles and responsibilities==

ASHAs are local women trained to act as health educators and promoters in their communities. The Indian MoHFW describes them as:<ref>National Institute of Health and Family Welfare. (2005) “[http://www.nihfw.org/ndc-nihfw/UploadedDocs/FrequentlyAskedQuestionsASHA.doc+accredited+social+health+activist&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=ca&client=firefox-a%5B%5D Frequently Asked Questions on ASHA].” Government of India. Accessed April 23, 2007</ref><blockquote>
...health activist(s) in the community who will 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.</blockquote>

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.<ref>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). (2005c). ASHA.. Government of India. Accessed July 20, 2008, from {{cite web |url=http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/asha.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422204352/http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/asha.htm |archive-date=22 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> ASHAs are also meant to serve as a key communication mechanism between the healthcare system and rural populations.<ref>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). (2005a). National Rural Health Mission: Mission Document. Government of India. Accessed July 1, 2008, from {{cite web|url=http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/Documents/NRHM%20Mission%20Document.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612060846/http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/Documents/NRHM%20Mission%20Document.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref>

She will act as a depot holder for essential provisions being made available to all habitations like Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORS), Iron Folic Acid Tablet (IFA), chloroquine, Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK), Oral Pills & Condoms.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)|url=http://nrhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/about-asha.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708120224/http://nrhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/about-asha.html|archive-date=8 July 2015|access-date=14 May 2015|website=National Rural Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare}}</ref>
[[File:The tableau of Health & Family Welfare highlighting - 'Aasha' accredited Social Health Activist , passes through the Rajpath during the Republic Day Parade - 2006, in New Delhi on January 26, 2006.jpg|thumb|The tableau of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighting - 'Aasha' during the [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day Parade]], 2006]]

==Selection==

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 have yet to marry since Indian cultural norms dictate that upon marriage a woman leaves her village and migrates to that of her husband. ASHAs preference for selection is they must have qualified up to the tenth grade, preferably be between the ages of 25 and 45, and are selected by and accountable to the [[gram panchayat]] (local government). If there is no suitable literate candidate, these criteria may be relaxed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/about-asha.html|title=About ASHA - Government of India|website=nhm.gov.in|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-02-20}}</ref>

==Remuneration==
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 {{INRConvert|600}} and the mother receives {{INRConvert|1400}}. ASHAs also receive {{INRConvert|150}} for each child completing an immunization session and {{INRConvert|150}} for each individual who undergoes family planning.<ref>{{citation|title=Reading Material for ASHA|date=2005|url=http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/Documents/Module%201-%20Ring%201%20ASHA%20Reading%20Material%5B1%5D.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027115503/http://www.mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/Documents/Module%201-%20Ring%201%20ASHA%20Reading%20Material%5B1%5D.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Health and Family Welfare|archive-date=27 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> ASHAs are expected to attend a Wednesday meeting at the local [[Primary Health Centre (India)|primary health centre]] (PHC); beyond this requirement, the time ASHAs spend on their CHW tasks is relatively flexible.

==Monitoring and Evaluation under National Rural Health Mission==
A baseline survey is to be taken at the district level. It is for fixing decentralized monitoring goals and indicators. The community monitoring would be at the village level. The planning commission would be the eventual monitor of outcomes. External evaluation will be taken up at frequent intervals.

==See also==
*[[Auxiliary nurse midwife|Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM)]]
*[[Vikas yojna]]
*[[Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission]]
*[[Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Government Schemes in India}}
{{Health in India}}
[[Category:Rural development in India]]
[[Category:Health programmes in India]]

Accredited Social Health Activist - Revision history

>DiplomatTesterMan at 10:09, 14 May 2021