From Our Correspondent
TURA: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) Divas was celebrated for the first time in West Garo Hills on Saturday at Tura with an elaborate function organized by the West Garo Hills District Health Society at the Social Mobilization, Experimentation and Learning Centre near here.
The celebration started with a procession by 1617 ASHAs from 18 primary health centres and 7 community health centres from all around West Garo Hills district holding placards and banners carrying messages on healthy living.
Nokma Council President, S G Momin in his inaugural speech as the Chief Guest lauded the efforts of the ASHAs in their endeavour to reach out to the weaker sections of the society in rural areas in need of medical aid and attention. He said that it was time for the government to acknowledge the efforts of the ASHAs and grant them financial aid in the form of regularized salaries among other incentives.
Urging the ASHAs to carry on their humanitarian work reaching out to the weaker sections of the society especially women, Momin asked them to disseminate necessary information in regards to health and family welfare to every nook and corner of Garo Hills.
District MCH Officer, Dr I A Sangma, in her introductory address informed that Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are community health workers instituted by the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) as part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
The Mission began in 2005 and its full implementation was targeted for 2012. Sangma added that once fully implemented, there is to be an ASHA in every village in India with a target estimate of 250,000 ASHAs in 10 states.
Enlightening the gathering on the roles of ASHAs Dr Sangma said that ASHAs were local women trained to act as health educators and promoters in their communities.