UNICEF Hails India's Community Health Workers In Protecting Women & Children Against Deadly Diseases
In 2014, India was certified polio-free.
In 2015, India eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus.?
From 2011 to 2020, infant mortality in India decreased by 35 percentage points.?
Hailing these milestones, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted the life-saving progress in health and development achieved for millions of vulnerable children and women in India, and the role of community health workers in this.?
"India has shown the world that progress is possible when children are prioritized. Countries around the world can draw valuable insights from India's experience," added Russell.?
Success story of women-led frontline workers in India?
It is India's women-led frontline workers that are at the centre of this success story. Working in villages across India, they are improving the health and wellbeing of children and families, one family at a time.?
"India has the world¡¯s largest child population. By investing in community health workers, the country has made impressive gains in vaccinating children and fighting deadly diseases, including measles and diarrhoea, while also saving millions of children from malnutrition," said Russell.?
Russell travelled to India¡¯s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, to meet women frontline health workers in Lucknow and see firsthand their crucial role in providing an array of essential services to save lives in the hardest-to-reach communities across India.?
She visited a a primary health centre in Lucknow and saw how they use a digital Poshan Tracker to provide life-saving nutritional services to women and children.?
Russell also joined Lalita, a frontline health worker from Barabanki block, during home visits to monitor 27-year-old Jyoti and her 42-day-old baby boy, Ayansh.?
ASHAs like Lalita tell mothers about breastfeeding and ensure newborns receive vaccinations on schedule. They also evaluate the health and overall condition of newborns, checking for warning signs or health issues.?
Who are the community health workers in India and what do they do??
Community health workers in India are employed as Anganwadi workers (AWWs), accredited social health activists (ASHA workers), and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and are indispensable in providing basic healthcare in Indian rural areas.?
AWWs plan different nutrition-related initiatives and other helpful activities.?
As directed by an AWW, an ASHA worker performs health care duties, such as conducting workshops to increase understanding of child care, a healthy diet, prenatal care, personal hygiene, and the importance of immunization.?
An ANM provides services in the following areas: family planning; health, nutrition, and education; sanitation; environmental protection; immunisation for the prevention of infectious illnesses; care for minor injuries; and first aid in times of emergencies and disasters.?
Most of the community health workers in India are women. Globally as well, women account for nearly 75 per cent of community health workers.However, they continue to face challenges such as low salaries, long hours, and limited funding for their efforts.?
Various research studies have focused on the fact that the crucial role played by the community health workers in India in providing basic healthcare services to the vulnerable population needs to be acknowledged by the community and government.? ?
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