ASHA workers were celebrated for their dedicated service to the community at a conference here today.
The event was for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) working in East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi.
Present on the occasion was Health and Family Welfare Minister James PK Sangma; Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar; Mission Director, National Health Mission, Ramkumar S; Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) cum Joint Mission Director, NHM, Dr L Challam; Director of Health Services (R), Dr SS Nongbri among others.
Several activities were held, including a welcome song by the ASHAs of Ri-Bhoi, a short skit on awareness about the daily activities of an ASHA as she deals with looking after sanitation in her village, helping a mother whose minor daughter was abused, conducting a house visit and dealing with troubles at her own home. The short skit was skillfully presented by the ASHAs from Mawphlang Primary Health Centre.
A felicitation ceremony was also held whereby the best performing ASHAs from each district and all 11 blocks, including best performing ASHA Facilitators at district and block levels. Certificates and awards were presented to each winner by the minister along with the other dignitaries. The best performing Village Health Councils from all the 11 blocks were also awarded.
The ASHA Union also presented gifts to Sangma along with the other dignitaries in the form of bags that are meant to symbolise the things that an ASHA carries with her which is full and laden with her numerous responsibilities.
Three videos produced by the Department of Health and Family Welfare and National Health Mission on the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme, ASHA Pay and VHC were screened.
Sangma said he hoped that a conference for all 7,000 ASHAs of the state can be held one day. The minister also informed that, in the last few years, there has been a significant increase in performance by Meghalaya in institutional delivery, which has increased to 70 percent from 55 percent two years ago and reduction of maternal and infant mortality rates by over 30 percent, which is due to the ASHAs’ constant dedication and hard work.
Sampath Kumar reminisced about the time he first started working with ASHAs, which was when he was Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills in 2005. Back then the immunization rate was only 14 percent for the whole state. Now, with the sincere efforts of the ASHAs, immunization has reached 90 percent in Meghalaya.
