The World Health Organisation (WHO) has honoured ASHA Foundation volunteers for their crucial role in providing direct healthcare facilities in rural areas. On Sunday, the WHO awarded the one million women workers for their service to India in the coronavirus pandemic. ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) is the first point of contact in rural regions affiliated with the Government of India.
ASHA volunteers came to the limelight when the pandemic reached its peak in the nation. They conducted door-to-door checks and traced COVID patients. On Sunday, May 22, WHO Director, Dr. Tedros Adhanoom Ghebreyesus, announced six awards recognizing the outstanding contributions to growing global health, leadership, and commitment to regional health problems.
ASHA Gave ‘Hope’ During Pandemic
Dr. Tedros praised the ASHA foundation and said, “ASHA is one among the awardees. It means hope in Hindi. We honour and respect one million female volunteers in India for their crucial role. They linked the community with the health system and ensured direct primary healthcare facilities to people living in rural poverty.”
The ASHA foundation workers also give maternal care and ensure that children in rural areas get vaccinated against non-curable or harmful diseases. They have also supervised treatment for hypertension and tuberculosis. In addition to this, the workers have promoted nutrition, sanitation, and healthy living.
“The award recognizes people who have contributed to protecting and promoting health globally,” the WHO chief added. Among the other noteworthy honours, there are polio vaccination Workers of Afghanistan. However, the assassins murdered them in Takhar and Tuzun in February 2021. In addition to this, Dr. Paul Farmer was a recipient of the Global Health Leaders Award. He was the Chairman of the Global Health and Social Medicine Department at Harvard Medical School. He was also the Co-founder of International NGO Partners in Health. Unfortunately, Farmer passed away in 2021 in Rwanda.
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