Discuss the features of ASHA.

ASHA, which stands for Accredited Social Health Activist, is a key component of India's National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), now subsumed under the National Health Mission (NHM). ASHA workers are community health volunteers tasked with promoting maternal and child health, facilitating access to healthcare services, and mobilizing communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Here are the key features of ASHA:

1. Community-Based Health Worker:

   • ASHA is a community-based health worker selected from the local community and trained to serve as a liaison between the community and the health system.
   • ASHA workers are typically women chosen based on criteria such as literacy, residence in the community they serve, and willingness to work voluntarily.

2. Link between Community and Health System:

   • ASHA acts as a vital link between the community and the formal healthcare system, helping to bridge gaps in access to healthcare services, information, and resources.
   • ASHA workers facilitate access to healthcare by accompanying community members to health facilities, assisting with referrals, and providing information on available services and entitlements.

3. Promotion of Maternal and Child Health:

   • ASHA plays a crucial role in promoting maternal and child health by providing antenatal care, promoting institutional deliveries, supporting breastfeeding practices, and encouraging immunization.
   • ASHA workers conduct home visits to pregnant women and newborns, monitor their health status, provide counseling on nutrition, hygiene, and family planning, and refer high-risk cases to health facilities for further care.

4. Health Education and Awareness:

   • ASHA conducts health education and awareness campaigns in the community on various health issues, including sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, family planning, and prevention of communicable diseases.
   • ASHA organizes community meetings, health camps, and outreach activities to disseminate information, raise awareness, and promote healthy behaviors among community members.

5. Support for Health Programs and Services:

   • ASHA assists in the implementation of national health programs and services at the grassroots level, including immunization campaigns, family planning services, and disease control initiatives.
   • ASHA workers facilitate the delivery of services such as immunization, contraceptives, and maternal and child health services by mobilizing beneficiaries, organizing outreach sessions, and providing follow-up support.

6. Data Collection and Reporting:

   • ASHA is responsible for collecting and reporting health-related data from the community to the health system, including vital events such as births, deaths, pregnancies, and immunizations.
   • ASHA workers maintain records of health-related activities, register pregnant women and children, and submit reports to health authorities to inform planning, monitoring, and evaluation of health programs.

7. Incentives and Recognition:

   • ASHA workers receive performance-based incentives and recognition for their efforts, including financial incentives linked to specific health outcomes and achievements.
   • In addition to incentives, ASHA workers may receive training, support, and supervision from health authorities to enhance their knowledge, skills, and effectiveness in performing their duties.

In summary, ASHA is a community-based health worker program that plays a crucial role in promoting maternal and child health, facilitating access to healthcare services, and mobilizing communities to adopt healthy behaviors. With their grassroots presence and intimate knowledge of the communities they serve, ASHA workers contribute significantly to improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities in rural and underserved areas of India.