78th Independence Day: Union Health Minister honours 75 ASHAs, ANMs for their tireless efforts in improving nation's health landscape

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt Anupriya Patel felicitated 75 ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) and ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) to honor their dedication and tireless efforts towards the success of various health initiatives of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at Vigyan Bhawan. 

To commemorate their outstanding contributions, 75 ASHAs and ANMs have been invited, along with their spouses, as Special Guests for the 78th Independence Day Ceremony. They witnessed the 78th Independence Day event from the Red Fort.

Commending the ASHAs and ANMs “for their exceptional and tireless efforts in improving the nation's health landscape”, Smt. Anupriya Patel stated that “there are currently more than 10.29 Lakh ASHAs and 89,000 ANMs who serve as the cornerstone of community health in our country and play a crucial role in transforming healthcare at the grassroots level.

Underlining the crucial contributions of ASHAs and ANMs in advancing India's maternal, child, and adolescent health, Smt. Patel stated that “ASHAs and ANMs have played a pivotal role in improving the landscape of maternal, child, and adolescent health in India, with an 82% decline in the maternal mortality ratio since 1990.

Increased vaccination coverage through the Universal Immunization Programme has contributed to the decline in infant mortality rates from 37 per 1,000 live births in 2015 to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020. With immense support from ASHAs and ANMs under Mission Indradhanush, 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated from 2014 to 2023. India was certified polio-free in March 2014, and Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) was eliminated in July 2016. This could be actualized because of the invaluable contribution of the frontline workers, ASHAs and ANMs.”

Highlighting the efforts made for the well-being of the ASHAs and ANMs, Smt. Patel stated that “As per the interim budget speech for February 2024, significant provisions have been announced for ASHAs and ANMs in recognition of their critical role in public health.

ASHAs are now eligible for health care annual coverage of ₹5 lakhs under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). More than 6 lakh ASHAs are also covered under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan schemes across various states and UTs”.

Smt. Patel thanked the ASHAs and ANMs for their crucial service to the nation and added that “the dream of the Prime Minister to make India a developed nation before 2047, the centennial anniversary of our independence, can only be achieved with the help of our frontline workers as only a healthy nation can be a developed nation in the true sense”.

Shri Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, stated that “the responsibility of the healthcare system of India is on the shoulders of the frontline workers, ASHAs and ANMs. In the last 10 years, there has been a tenfold increase in the number of people coming to the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

The house visits of the frontline workers have contributed significantly to the delivery of healthcare facilities”. Citing the challenges faced by the ASHAs and ANMs, Shri Chandra added how they fulfill the additional duties of record-keeping of the patients for different diseases like TB, hypertension, diabetes, etc. He also sought suggestions from the workers to decrease their record-keeping work and make the healthcare delivery system more effective.

Upon their arrival in the capital, the 75 ASHAs and ANMs and their families were warmly received by the officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Special sightseeing arrangements were made for them to visit Delhi’s iconic landmarks. They visited the Nehru Planetarium, followed by Kartavya Path with a stop at India Gate allowing them to pay homage to the nation's martyrs. This recognition not only boosts the morale of these health workers but also sets a precedent for valuing their essential role reinforcing the importance of their work in advancing public health in India.

Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), and other senior officials from the Ministry were also present at the event.