Overview

ASHA is a health activist in the community who creates awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilizes the community towards local health planning and increased utilization and accountability of the existing health services. She would be a promoter of good health practices. She will also provide a minimum package of curative care as appropriate and feasible for that level and make timely referrals. Her roles and responsibilities would be as follows:

  • ASHA will take steps to create awareness and provide information to the community on determinants of health such as nutrition, basic sanitation & hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions, information on existing health services and the need for timely utilization of health & family welfare services.
  • She will counsel women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common infections including Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Infection (RTIs/STIs) and care of the young child.
  • ASHA will mobilize the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related services available at the village/sub-center/primary health centers, such as Immunization, Ante Natal Check-up (ANC), Post Natal Check-up (PNC), ICDS, sanitation and other services being provided by the government.
  • She will work with the Village Health Sanitation & Nutrition Committee of the Gram Panchayat to develop a comprehensive village health plan.
  • She will arrange escort/accompany pregnant women & children requiring treatment/ admission to the nearest pre- identified health facility i.e. Primary Health Centre/ Community Health Centre/ First Referral Unit (PHC/CHC /FRU).
  • ASHA will provide primary medical care for minor ailments such as diarrhoea, fevers, and first aid for minor injuries. She will be a provider of Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme.
  • She will also act as a depot holder for essential provisions being made available to every habitation like Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORS), chloroquine, Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK), Oral Pills & Condoms, etc. A Drug Kit will be provided to each ASHA. Contents of the kit will be based on the recommendations of the expert/technical advisory group set up by the Government of India.
  • Her role as a provider can be enhanced subsequently. States can explore the possibility of graded training to her for providing newborn care and management of a range of common ailments particularly childhood illnesses.
  • She will inform about the births and deaths in her village and any unusual health problems/disease outbreaks in the community to the Sub-Centres/Primary Health Centre.
  • She will promote construction of household toilets under Total Sanitation Campaign.
  • Fulfilment of all these roles by ASHA is envisaged through continuous training and up-gradation of her skills, spread over two years or more.
Module training programme to ASHA:
Today, ASHA, the prime community vehicle can confidently claim to have contributed no small measure to the achievements of NRHM. In the State, 7367 ASHA were selected, but at present 7226 ASHAs are in position (out of total 141 ASHAs, few were identified as non-performing and few were selected as Faciliator). After selection, ASHAs have been imparted series of training to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence for performing her duties.
 
Sl ASHA Training Module Duration (Total Days)
1 1st Module 19
2 2nd Module
3 3rd Module
4 4th Module
5 5th Module 5
6 6th & 7th Module 1st Round 10
7 6th & 7th Module 2nd Round
8 6th & 7th Module 3rd Round 5
Special Interventions undertaken:
  • In Tripura, AYUSH Medical Officers (Ayurveda and Homeopathy) posted in different Health Institutions were selected as Trainers to undertake ASHA Training along with other trainers likely Staff Nurse, Multi Purpose Supervisor (MPS).
  • A panel of Trainers was identified and declared by the State for each District to undertake ASHA training in Health Institution level.
  • Residential Training of Trainers (TOT) was rolled out for each Module and Training was imparted by National Lev el Trainers in collaboration with RRC-NES, Guwahati.
  • State level Trainers had stayed in the residence of ASHA for two days during their residential training programme on 6th & 7th Module. Trainers had accompanied ASHA during their house to house visits, interacted with villagers during their two days stay in ASHA’s residence.
  • A state level team led by Mission Director, NRHM, Tripura had personally facilitated all residential training programme along with field tours, visited ASHA’s residence during trainer’s stay in their residence.
  • Supportive supervision is made by State and District ASHA Resource Centre in each session of ASHA Training in all Districts.
ASHA Drug kit:
As one of the major responsibilities of ASHA is to provide primary medical care for minor ailments such as diarrhoea, fevers, and first aid for minor injuries, she is provided a drug kit containing basic essential drugs/items such as; Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORS), chloroquine, Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK), Oral Pills & Condoms, etc. The drug kit is given to the ASHAs from the PHC during the PHC meeting. The drug kit should be given in such a way that, she has at least one month stock of drugs with her all the time.
  • The list of the drugs ASHAs must have and the quantity of each for one month stock is as given below; Name of the drug and specification:-

    •  
    SlNo Name of Drugs Quantity
    1 Disposable Delivery Kit with following items:- Soap 25 gm, Cotton Thread: 2 Nos, AB Gauze:2”x2” 4 Nos. Blade (half): 1 No & Plastic Sheet: 2’ x 5: (Gauze) 05
    2 ORS Packet 20.5 gm (with Glucose-13.5 gm Sodium Chloride-2.9gm, Potassium Chloride-1.5gm, 2.6gm, Sodium Citrate excipient-QS) 100 pkt
    3 Tab Paracetamol 500 mg 100 tab
    4 Tab Dicyclomine 20 mg 50 tab
    5 Provident ointment Tube 5 gm tube 2 tube
    6 Cotton Absorbent roll of 100 gm 1 roll
    7 Bandage, 4cmx4metres (paper Wrapped) 10 rolls

    State Government Initiatives for ASHAs:
    The State Government of Tripura has undertaken the following special initiatives regarding better compensation to ASHAs and also providing better opportunity to eligible ASHAs:
    • Additional 33.33% performance based incentive is given from the State Fund on each incentive of ASHA throughout the State.
    • A minimum (10%) of the seats is kept in the selection of Multi-purpose Worker (Female) Training to be filled up from ASHAs having at least 5 (Five) years of service and having necessary educational and other requirements.
    • ASHA would be provided seating arrangement in the Anganwadi Centre / Health Sub Centre/Primary Health Centres / Community Health Centre in their respective areas.