ASHA will be a health activist in the community who
will create awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilize the
community towards local health planning and increased utilization and
accountability of the existing health services. She would be a promoter of good
health practices. She will also provide a minimum package of curative care as
appropriate and feasible for that level and make timely referrals. Her roles
and responsibilities would be as follows:
Ø ASHA will
take steps to create awareness and provide information to the community
on determinants of health such as nutrition, basic sanitation & hygienic
practices, healthy living and working conditions, information on existing
health services and the need for timely utilization of health & family
welfare services.
Ø She will counsel
women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breastfeeding and
complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common
infections including Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted
Infection (RTIs/STIs) and care of the young child.
Ø ASHA will mobilize
the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related
services available at the village/sub-center/primary health centers, such as Immunization,
Ante Natal Check-up (ANC), Post Natal Check-up (PNC), ICDS, sanitation and
other services being provided by the government.
Ø She will work
with the Village Health & Sanitation Committee of the Gram Panchayat to
develop a comprehensive village health plan.
Ø She will
arrange escort/accompany pregnant women & children requiring
treatment/ admission to the nearest pre- identified health facility i.e.
Primary Health Centre/ Community Health Centre/ First Referral Unit (PHC/CHC
/FRU).
Ø ASHA will provide
primary medical care for minor ailments such as diarrhoea, fevers, and first
aid for minor injuries. She will be a provider of Directly Observed Treatment Short-course
(DOTS) under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme.
Ø She will
also act as a depot holder for essential provisions being made available to
every habitation like Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORS), Iron Folic Acid Tablet
(IFA), chloroquine, Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK), Oral Pills & Condoms,
etc. A Drug Kit will be provided to each ASHA. Contents of the kit will be
based on the recommendations of the expert/technical advisory group set up by
the Government of India.
Ø Her role
as a provider can be enhanced subsequently. States can explore the possibility of
graded training to her for providing
newborn care and management of a range of common ailments particularly
childhood illnesses.
Ø She will inform
about the births and deaths in her village and any unusual health problems/disease
outbreaks in the community to the Sub-Centres/Primary Health Centre.
Ø She will
promote construction of household toilets under Total Sanitation Campaign.
Ø Fulfillment
of all the se roles by ASHA is envisaged through continuous training and
upgradation of her skills, spread over two years or more.