ITANAGAR, Mar 20:Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein lauded the work of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) for their contributions in bringing improvement in the health indicators of the State while attending the inaugural session of the First State Convention of ASHAs in the Auditorium Hall of State Legislative Assembly today.

Citing role of ASHAs vital for improving health delivery system, Mein said that there has been significant improvement in Health Indicators since ASHAs were introduced in the year 2005 through the National Rural Health Mission.  

Taking cognizance of the vital role they played in improving the health indicators of the state, their working conditions and the minimal incentives they received from the government under the National Health Mission programme, Mein mooted to provide some incentives from the state government to the ASHAs and asserted to bring up the matter in the State Cabinet for a decision.

Mein said that the state government while according top priority to Health & Education Sectors apart from improving rural economy through agriculture & allied sectors has made highest allocations of fund under Health Sector in the budget 2018-19. Highlighting the budget allocations under Health Sector, he informed that Chief Minister Health Assurance Program will be dovetailed with Ayushman Bharat Program of Govt of India for which a provision of Rs. 50 Crores has been kept and under District Health Society, a pool of resources named as Mukhyamantri Rogi Kalyan Kosh will be established to provide flexible resources to District Level Societies for procurement of drugs, maintenance of hospital infrastructure, hiring of specialist doctors, organising health camps for which Rs. 40 crores has been earmarked. Functioning of TRIHMS Medical College in 2018-19 for which a gap funding of Rs. 100 Crores has been provided.

Besides others, fund provision for strengthening of ANM and GNM schools across State (Rs 20 Crores), free chemotherapy for APST cancer patients (Rs. 5 Crores), Medical Oxygen Supply System in all Tertiary, Secondary Health Care Institutions in the State(Rs. 10 Crores), Grant in Aid to RK Mission Hospital (Rs. 4 Crores), Renal Care Fund to provide a relief of up to Rs. 10 lakh per patient (Rs. 5 Crores), to provide residential care facility to the patient near NEIGRIHMS Shillong (Rs 20 Crores), for establishment of mortuaries with cold storage facilities at 5 Zonal, 2 District Hospitals and 3 CHCs in the State (Rs. 5 Crores) and integrated strategy of rehabilitation, counselling, and medical intervention to deal with the drug addiction in the affected areas  (Rs. 15 Crores) has been earmarked in the Budget 2018-19.

Lauding their contributions, Mein said that the reports of improvement in health indicators itself reflects the contributions of the ASHAs in the State some of which he highlighted as the antenatal check-up of mothers in the first trimester has improved from 24% (2005-06) to 37% in 2015-16, mothers whose last birth was protected against neonatal tetanus has also improved from 40% (2005-06) to 64% in 2015-16 and registered pregnancies for which the mother received Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card has increased to 89% in 2016-17. He also informed that the Institutional births has increased from 28.5% (2005-06) to 52.3 in 2016-17 and births assisted by a doctor/nurse/LHV/ANM/other health personnel has also increased from 30% (2005-06) to 53.8% in 2015-16.

Other health indicators like children under age 3 years breastfed within one hour of birth has marginally increased from 55% in 2005-06 to 58% in 2015-16 and the children age 6-59 months who are anaemic has decreased from 57% in 2005-06 to 50.7% in 2015-16. Comprehensive knowledge and consistent condom use have also increased among the women from 2005-06 to 2015-16 thereby reducing the chances of getting HIV/AIDS. Reports also reflected that the Women who use any kind of tobacco & alcohol has decreased by a quarter from 2005 to 2016 and

Full Immunization has increased from 28% in 2005-06 to 68% in 2017-18 (HMIS). He sought their active participation for further improvement of health indicators.

                State BJP President, Tapir Gao said that the ASHAs performed an angelic service in the remote areas where no health care facilities are available. They had the toughest jobs of educating the innocent people in remotest areas about the health, hygiene, sanitations and other medical cares. Highlighting the difficult environment and tough conditions in which they assist the pregnant women for safe delivery in remote areas, he said that Rs 600 honorarium of ASHAs should not be denied to them where there is no mode of transportation facilities are available to bring the delivering women to the health institutions. He sought for a re-look in the policy and requested the Govt for suitable modifications in the policy so that the ASHAs who are doing their jobs dutifully do not go unrecognised.    

                Parliamentary Secretary for Health & Family Welfare, Phurpa Tsering informed that the State of Arunachal Pradesh has achieved 100 % coverage of vaccinations against Measles & Rubella and it is the first State in the country to achieve 100% coverage well ahead of the national target under Measles Rubella Campaign (MRVC) that was launched in January 30 last. He congratulated the Health & Family Welfare Department for the achievement and attributed the success to the ASHAs, who acts as the frontline functionaries for motivating & mobilizing the parents. Saying ‘ASHA’ means hope, he stated that without the participation of ASHAs, various health programmes could not be implemented successfully in the State and said that they deserves due recognition for their service.  

                Special Secretary for Health & Family Welfare, Dr Tapasya Raghav IAS, who is also the MD, National Health Mission of the State highlighted the activities of ASHAs and informed that though initially they were intended to act as a community activists in order to create awareness, provide counselling services, mobilise community and act as a reliable link between community and health care system, their roles are multi-tasking in nature today. Their support during specific campaigns under Routine Immunization has been immense and she also attributed the success of Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) and Measles Rubella Campaign (MRVC) which could be completed on time achieving 100% coverage this month. She said that contribution of ASHAs in campaigns for preventing preventable blindness, National Deworming day (NDD), Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF), National Population fortnight (NPF) etc, have been exemplary and said, “without their involvement, these campaigns could not have been achieved & successful”. She also informed that Rs 1000 will be given to those parents whose children have received 100% vaccination.

                She further said that the State Convention for ASHAs has been organized to recognize, motivate and celebrate the efforts put in by them in the State.

                40 ASHAs, two best ASHAs from each of 20 districts were awarded with mementos and certificates on the occasion.

                Dr Kabang Lego, Director Family Welfare called upon the ASHAs to work with rejuvenated spirit after going from here to their respective districts.

                Among others, Dr Bamin Tada, Director, Regional Research Centre, North East, Dr Partho Gogoi, Regional Director for Assam & Arunachal, Govt of India, Dr Moji Jini, Director TRIHMS and senior doctors were also present on the occasion.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List