Page 17 - NIS English 16-30 June 2022

War Against COVID Nation

INDIA'S "ASHA" IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID
INDIA'S "ASHA" IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID

WHO HONOURS 10 LAKH ASHA WORKERS

Hello ma'am! I am an Asha worker.
How is your fever? Did you take your
medicine or not? I am delighted that the entire team of
ASHA workers has been honored with the
During the fight against Covid, we heard this WHO Director-General's Global Health
from many Asha workers who visited homes
or on picking up the phone after the bell rang. It Leaders Award. Congratulations to all
signifies the collective voice of over one million ASHA workers. They are at the forefront of
ASHA workers in the country who participated ensuring a healthy India. Their dedication
in various campaigns from fighting malnutrition and determination is commendable
to infant-maternal immunization. In 2020, when
Covid struck the country, these ASHA workers, NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER
known as 'Asha Didi', went door-to-door to collect
information related to people's travel, kept an FAST VACCINATION OF CHILDREN
account of health problems, and made people Till May 25, 192.67 crore vaccines have been
aware of the vaccination drive. These workers administered in India. While 3.31 crore first
played an important role in making the world's doses have been given to children in the age
largest and free vaccination campaign successful. group of 12-14 years, 1.48 crore have been given
As a result of this, by giving more than 193 crore both doses. 4.50 crore of both doses have been
Covid vaccine doses till May 31, India has shown a given to children in the age group of 15-18 years.
way to the whole world in the fight against Covid. Active cases of Covid in India are 14,971 while
Honoring this achievement, the World Health 2,124 new cases were reported in the last 24
Organization has awarded ASHA workers with the hours. The current recovery rate is 98.75 percent
Global Health Leaders Award. and the weekly active cases rate is 0.49 percent.

ASHA WORKERS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IN RURAL INDIA
Accredited Social Health Activists or ASHA Volunteers are healthcare workers affiliated to
the Government of India and are the first point of contact in rural India. Many of these ASHA
workers became household names as they took a painstaking effort for identifying the

Corona patients by going door-to-door during its peak in the country. g

New India Samachar June 16-30, 2022 15