Dr Ranjan hails role of ASHA, assures their wellbeing
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 31 2022:
Stating that women need to take extra care during their menstrual period in order to avoid health complications, health minister Dr Sapam Ranjan has hailed the role of ASHA workers in creating awareness on various health issues including menstrual hygiene among the public.
The minister was speaking as chief guest of the function held for distribution of bags and umbrellas to ASHAs at Heritage Hall, IMA, Lamphelpat on Wednesday.
Directorate of health services and National Health Mission (NHM) Manipur jointly organised the programme with support from World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ranjan emphasised on giving priority in primary healthcare system as strengthening primary health care, which is at the grassroots level is crucial for improving the tertiary healthcare system.
The government is working to improve overall healthcare system in the state and needs support from the public in order to achieve the goal, he said.
While stating that ASHA workers are playing a vital role of taking grassroots healthcare service to the community, he said the government acknowledges the contribution of ASHA workers in filling the gaps in the public healthcare system.
Appreciating ASHAs for their contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister noted that they are involved in maximum programmes and activities of NHM as well as in door-to-door health checkup programme taken up under CMHA.
World Health Organisation also recognised the dedicated service of ASHAs and the government is working towards resolving issues faced by them, the minister assured.
He also stated that the department is planning to take up various programmes related with menstrual hygiene as part of adolescent health care within a couple of months and pointed out that young girls often feel uneasy to talk about menstrual period as it still remains as a social taboo in many parts of the state.
As extra care is needed during such period without which health complications may arise, it is imperative to educate the adolescent girls on what they could do during their menstrual period to prevent health complications, Dr Ranjan explained and stated that ASHAs can take a bigger role to end the social taboo about the menstrual hygiene and educate them on the same.
Health Services director Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang, who presided over the function, said that ASHAs show their worth by their action, and not by words.
There are 664,349 villages and 700,000 ASHA workers in the country.
They have become an interface between health functionary and communities, he said, while stressing the need for providing basic healthcare training to them.
NHM state mission director Dr Somorjit Ningombam also attended the programme.
Mannequins provided by UNICEF were distributed to three health care facilities so as to aid in improving maternal and child health programme.
Later, the minister paid a surprise visit to the medical directorate office and inspected the medical store room and medical supply in stock.