ASHA & Anganwadi Centres

ASHA

The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) (External website that opens in a new window) is a health activism initiative within communities. It also creates awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilizes the community towards local health planning and increased utilization and accountability of existing health services provided by the government. ASHA also provides a minimum package of curative care as appropriate and feasible for that level and makes timely referrals. Under the National Rural Health Mission (External website that opens in a new window), the government envisaged appointment of a female Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in every village to act as an interface between ANM and the village and to be accountable to the Panchayat.

The ASHAs would get performance-based compensation for promoting universal immunization, referral and escort services for RCH, construction of household toilets and other healthcare delivery programmes. Though Central government makes general guideline for appointment of the ASHAs, various States are free to follow their own models based on the requirements of the State. The success of government's health programmes in rural areas depends much on the success of this scheme.

Maternity Hospitals in India

Leading Indian hospitals with gynaecology departments and women's hospitals have facilities for the prevention and early detection of gynaecological disorders. Many hospitals have women check-up programmes designed to detect the earliest signs of disorders of the breast and the organs of reproduction as well as catering to the contraceptive needs of women. A mammogram, an ultrasound of the pelvis and a pap smear of the cervix are an integral part of any good medical check-up for women. Specialist medical as well as surgical care is available for all types of gynaecological problems like menstrual abnormalities, prolapse, fibroids and other tumours of the uterus and ovaries, tubal recanalization by microsurgery and care of the infertile couple. State-of-the-art gynaecological surgery is available with world-class equipment and expertise using minimally invasive techniques.

Anganwadi Centres

Anganwadi centres come under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (External website that opens in a new window).The main objective of this programme is to cater to the needs of the development of children in the age group of 3-6 years. Pre-school education aims at ensuring holistic development of the children and to provide learning environment to children, which is conducive for promotion of social, emotional, cognitive and aesthetic development of the child.

• Anganwadi Centres in Andhra Pradesh (External website that opens in a new window)
• Anganwadi Centres in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (External website that opens in a new window)
• Anganwadi Centres in Kerala (-1 MB) (PDF file that opens in a new window)

Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on:25-04-2010