cover file.cdr - NRHM Manipur

2626ASHASince its inception in the year 2006 inManipur, ASHA, the foot soldiers of NRHM whotakes on the entire responsibility of the Missionat the grass root level of the machinery has sofar played a pivotal and crucial role in achievingthe objectives of the Mission. Keeping this factin mind, it is imperative that the Mission givesequal importance in monitoring and empoweringits ASHAs. Empowerment has to be on an ongoingbasis and on a continuous evidence based needassessment both for ASHAs and thebeneficiaries.Apart from imparting focused trainingprograms, ASHAs have been continuouslyempowered so far by providing them variousitems which are considered necessary in light ofdelivering their services both effectively andefficiently.So far in terms of empowering the ASHAs,the Mission has been providing them with thefollowing items:- Umbrella- ASHA drug kit- Radio- Bicycle (4 valley districts whereas in 5hill districts ASHAs are giving Rs.200every month as transportation charge)- Uniform- Diary- ID Card- Torch Light (Process)- Weighing machine- Digital thermometer- Digital Watch- Mobile phones and Raincoats arecurrently under process.Now, in order to make the entire systemmore efficient, the Mission is planning to introducea new catalyst to induce efficiency in the formof the Mother and Child Tracking Systempopularly known as the MCTS.Although the Mission provides for increasedsafety of Mothers and Newborns, many timesit has been found that Maternal and Infant deathswere reported due to sheer negligence on thepart of the beneficiaries such as skipping antenatalcheckups, neglecting the prescribedsupplements during pregnancy such as IFA, TTetc. Thus, the Mission has a situation in hand inwhich the system finds itself falling short in termsof monitoring and ensuring compliance from thebeneficiaries. In order to tackle this situation,the Mission is contemplating to use the MCTS sothat a fool proof system is in place where thesystem itself guarantees efficiency andeffectiveness as much as possible.In terms of enforcing the ASHAs, periodiccheckups of beneficiaries can be informed tothe ASHAs well in advance as a reminder so asto ensure that the beneficiaries stick to theirprescribed programs. This empowerment will atthe same time induce a certain amount ofaccountability to the ASHAs in terms ofresponsibilities so as so enable concernedauthorities in monitoring their performances.By :-Harris S. ChongthamState ASHA Program ManagerNRHM, ManipurNRHM Newletter July - December, 2011