Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), launched in 2005 as a part of the overarching National Health Policy, aimed to address the health disparities prevalent in rural India. It was a significant step towards achieving universal access to quality healthcare services, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. NRHM adopted a multi-pronged approach, focusing on improving maternal and child health, strengthening public health infrastructure, and promoting community participation. A crucial component of NRHM’s success was the deployment of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), community health workers who serve as the first point of contact for healthcare needs at the grassroots level.
Key Strategies of the National Rural Health Mission
NRHM was built upon several key strategies designed to improve rural healthcare. These can be broadly categorized as follows:
- Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure: This involved upgrading Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and sub-centres, ensuring adequate staffing, and providing essential equipment and medicines.
- Improving Maternal and Child Health: Key interventions included Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) to promote institutional deliveries, and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme to address malnutrition and early childhood development.
- Communicable Disease Control: NRHM focused on controlling major communicable diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS through targeted interventions and awareness campaigns. The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was a key component.
- Non-Communicable Disease Control: Recognizing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, NRHM initiated programs for early detection and management of conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Human Resources for Health: Addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas was a priority. NRHM focused on increasing the number of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff through training and incentives.
- Decentralized Planning and Community Participation: NRHM emphasized decentralized planning, empowering local communities to identify their health needs and participate in the planning and implementation of healthcare programs.
- Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Program: The cornerstone of community-level healthcare delivery, ASHAs were instrumental in bridging the gap between the healthcare system and the community.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)
ASHAs are community health workers, typically women, selected from and trained within the communities they serve. Their roles and responsibilities are extensive and crucial for the success of NRHM:
- Facilitating Access to Healthcare Services: ASHAs facilitate access to healthcare services by accompanying pregnant women to antenatal care, ensuring immunization of children, and assisting in referrals to hospitals.
- Health Awareness and Education: They conduct health awareness sessions on topics like maternal and child health, sanitation, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- Early Detection and Reporting: ASHAs are trained to identify early signs of illness and report them to the PHC, enabling timely intervention.
- Distribution of Medicines and Supplies: They distribute essential medicines like oral rehydration solution (ORS) and iron folic acid (IFA) tablets.
- Maintaining Records: ASHAs maintain records of births, deaths, and disease prevalence in their assigned areas.
- Anganwadi Coordination: They work closely with Anganwadi workers to ensure the effective implementation of ICDS programs.
- Community Mobilization: ASHAs mobilize communities to participate in health programs and adopt healthy behaviors.
ASHA Compensation: ASHAs receive a task-based incentive structure, meaning they are compensated for each service they provide. This incentivizes them to actively engage with the community and deliver healthcare services.
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Community Mobilizer | Encouraging community participation in health programs. |
| Health Educator | Conducting health awareness sessions. |
| Service Facilitator | Accompanying patients to health facilities. |
| Data Collector | Maintaining health records at the village level. |
Conclusion
The National Rural Health Mission, with ASHAs at its core, has significantly improved healthcare access and outcomes in rural India. While challenges remain, such as ensuring consistent ASHA motivation and addressing infrastructure gaps, the mission’s strategies have laid a strong foundation for achieving universal health coverage. Continued investment in strengthening the public health system, empowering communities, and supporting ASHAs is crucial for building a healthier India. The success of NRHM demonstrates the importance of a holistic, community-based approach to healthcare delivery.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.