Lok Sabha Question No. 2289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: ASHA
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2289 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH MAY, 2016

## ASHA

## 2289. SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY: SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has proposed to expand the services of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) under the National Health Mission (NHM) thereby improving the ASHAs -people rat ioacross the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  is  availing the  services  of  ASHA  in  implementing awareness programmes, if so, the type and number of awareness programmes being mplemented by them, State/UT - wiseincluding Maharashtra; and

(d) the other steps taken by the Government to create awareness among masses in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) & (b): Under  the  National  Urban  Health  Mission  (NUHM),  a  Sub Mission  of  the National Health Mission (NHM), a proposal for approval of ASHAs in urban areas on the ba of urban population in exceptional cases, if proposed by the States and UTs has been r approved by the Mission Steering Group (MSG) in its mee ting h ld on 29 th March, 2016.

(c): Public  Health  is  a  State  subject.  Under  the  NHM,  support  is  provided  for  avai services of ASHAs, Raising awareness through counselling of pregnant women, mothers  an families  on  key  behaviours  for  positive  health  ou tcomes  related  to  maternal,  newborn,  child health  and  nutrition  etc  is  a  key  function  of  the  ASHA.    This  awareness  is  underta States/UTs with ASHAs through home visits, monthly meetings of Village Health Sanitation Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs), during organisation of Village Health and Nutrition Day and Immunisation sessions.

- (d): The major steps taken by the Government to create awareness is at Annexure.

## Annexure

In  order  to  spread  awareness  about  the  various  health  issues,  especially  among  the rural population,  the  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  has  laid  significant  emphasi promotive and preventive health, which is being advocated through expansive and targeted Campaigns. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has designed an integrated communication plan and undertaken awareness campaigns for Maternal Health, Family Plannin and  Adolescent  Health,  PC&PNDT,  etc.  Under  the  360  degree  communication  approach,  the Ministry has taken up focussed activities under heads such as electr onic, print, social media, Out of Home (OOH) and others such as Melas etc.

The media plan for roll out of the TV and Radio spots, print advertisements, and OOH mat is  being  developed  in  coordination  with  DAVP  and  Prasar  Bharati  (DD  and  AIR)  for  bett r visibility and more effectiveness.

In  a  unique  initiative,  the  Health  Ministry  has  partnered  with  Directorate    of  Field under the M/O Information and Broadcasting, for mid - media and IPC activities in 184 high focus districts especially on hea lth interventions and schemes under the RMNCH+A umbrella.

As AIR and DD have a larger and better rural connect, and as many schemes and policies o MoHFW need to be disseminated more in the rural areas of the country, they are an int partner  in  t he  roll - out  strategy.  Given  the  volume  of  business  generated  by  MoHFW,  Prasar Bharati through an MOU with the health department, has agreed to provide 300% bonus airt to the Ministry for its IEC activities on DD Network. This has provided us additional airtime for enhanced visibility and reach.

Under  Maternal  Health  programme,  awareness  campaigns  were  undertaken  for  ensuring complete Ante Natal Care (ANC), post natal care, IFA Tablets, services under Janani Sh Suraksha  Karyakaram  (JSSK)  and  Janani  Suraksha  Yojana.  The  Government  also  launched campaigns on the available basket of choices in Family Planning and enhanced outreach thr doorstep availability & accessibility of contraceptives. Moreover, the improved packaging for Condoms, Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP) and Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) is bei promoted to influence the demand for these commodities. Elaborate campaigns have been dra up  for  the  sexual  and  reproductive  adolescent  health and  rights.  A  comprehensive  campaign against sex selection and the provisions of PC&PNDT act was also carried out.

Moreover,  through  the  Mother  and  Child  Tracking  System  (MCTS)  portal  41.37  Crore  SMS messages  to  ASHAs,  ANMs,  pregnant  women  and  families  o f  infants  and  1.36  Lakh  audio messages under Kilkari to pregnant women and mother of infants for health promotion have b sent in 2015 - 16.