First batch of ASHA volunteers set to commence work

New Delhi, Mar 25 (UNI) Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today exhorted Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) volunteers to provide the vital link between the community and health care services.

''You must function as mother and sister to those 400 families which you are going to cater to with an aim to provide benefits of the existing health services,'' she said while addressing the first batch of ASHA volunteers who have completed first modular training of 11-days.

She said the volunteers would function independently to overcome lack of information about various social schemes.

Instructing departments concerned to provide the volunteers a free hand to enable them to render substantial contribution, Ms Dikshit said the incentive would be enhanced after evaluation of the work.

The Chief Minister said the number of ASHA volunteers would soon be increased from 2,300 to 4,000 to enhance coverage of the scheme.

ASHA offers an incentive-based package for the activities which include basic survey of 400 households, identifying all immunised/partially immunised children and facilitating their complete immunisation and identifying all pregnant women and facilitating their access to antenatal/institutional delivery/post natal care.

ASHA Programme is a scheme under the Delhi State Health Mission funded by the Government as a contribution to the Mission.

The Scheme strives to provide the vital link between the community and the existing health services. On one hand it will make people aware about health and health care providing agencies and functionaries and on the other it will make the existing facilities more sensitive and responsive to those who seek healthcare.

It also aims at initiating local health planning. It is a scheme where a woman resident of a cluster of approximately 400 households, volunteers and is selected and given a basic training about positive health, healthcare system and related issues.

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