PM Modi hails ASHA workers for WHO DG's Global Health Leaders' Award

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Workers upon being conferred the WHO Director General's Global Health Leaders' Award.

He said that the ASHA workers are at the forefront of ensuring a healthy India and their dedication and determination is admirable.

"Delighted that the entire team of ASHA workers have been conferred the @WHO Director-General’s Global Health Leaders’ Award. Congratulations to all ASHA workers. They are at the forefront of ensuring a healthy India. Their dedication and determination is admirable," the PM said in a tweet.

The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Workers are more than one million female volunteers in the country, honoured for their crucial role in linking the community with the health system and ensuring that those living in rural poverty can access primary health care services.

ASHAs worked to provide maternal care and immunization for children against vaccine preventable diseases, community health care, treatment for hypertension and tuberculosis, and core areas of health promotion for nutrition, sanitation and healthy living.

"ASHA - means 'hope' in Hindi. These health workers provide maternal care and immunization for children against vaccine-preventable diseases; community health care; treatment for hypertension & tuberculosis and core areas of health promotion for nutrition, sanitation and healthy living," the World Health Organisation said in a tweet.

The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced six awards to recognize outstanding contributions to advancing global health, demonstrated leadership and commitment to regional health issues. Dr Tedros himself decides on the awardees for the World Health Organization Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Awards.

The ceremony for the awards, which were established in 2019, was part of the live-streamed high-level opening session of the 75th World Health Assembly.

"At a time when the world is facing an unprecedented convergence of inequity, conflict, food insecurity, the climate crisis and a pandemic, this award recognizes those who have made an outstanding contribution to protecting and promoting health around the world," said Dr Tedros. (UNI)