ASHA Workers

Why in News?

The World Health Organisation tweeted that more than 1 million ASHA workers have been honoured with the WHO Director General’s Global Health Leaders’ Award for their tremendous work in linking the community with the health system.

The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers are volunteers from within the community who are trained to provide information and aid people in accessing the benefits of various healthcare schemes of the government
They act as a bridge connecting marginalised communities with facilities such as primary health centres, sub-centres, and district hospitals
The role of these community health volunteers under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was first established in 2005
ASHAs are primarily married, widowed, or divorced women between the ages of 25 and 45 years from within the community
They must have good communication and leadership skills; should be literate with formal education up to Class 8, as per the program guidelines