The Health and Family Welfare Department today conducted a programme here where tablet computers were distributed to ver 7,000 ASHA workers and ASHA facilitators to make their workload easier.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar were among the dignitaries present.
Under this programme, the National Health Mission (NHM) Meghalaya procured 7,084 tablets for ASHAs and 335 tablets for ASHA facilitators. This tablet is equipped with applications and customised as per the requirement of the ASHAs in performing their daily activities. The ASHA and ASHA facilitator will only need to upload data in the respective apps and portals as and when required.
In his speech, Kumar mentioned that having digitised data at hand is much more convenient and being abreast with modern technology will help everyone leverage the protection of digital technology. He also mentioned that Meghalaya is one of the first states in the country to develop an ASHA Payment App whereby all the ASHAs can claim their incentives through this app and, when done regularly, all claims can be received on a weekly basis.
ASHAs have previously complained not only of delays in receiving their honorariums but also of how small a financial amount these part-time volunteers at the forefront of the medical system receive.
The inception of the payment app means that delays have been cut, a press release said today.
Kumar added that data, presentations, tracking, online reporting, etc can be done through this tablet.
Lyngdoh, meanwhile, in her speech reminisced that on one occasion, she had met with the ASHAs and they expressed to her about their difficulties of not receiving their dues on time. On hearing this, she had taken the matter to the Chief Minister and the subject was taken up by the NHM and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had approved the procurement of these tablets.
Lyngdoh also hoped that the tablets are used to give information and awareness to the community in a more effective way, for example by showing short videos to help deliver key health messages.
