Manipur Health Minister Sapam Ranjan Singh said that the committed service of the ASHA workers is highly commendable, on the occasion of ‘Distribution of Bags and Umbrellas to ASHAs of Manipur’ at Heritage Hall, IMA, Lamphelpat.
Speaking as chief guest at the event that was held on Wednesday, S Ranjan stressed on the need to put focus on the primary healthcare system. Tertiary health care system will hardly be able to be improved without strengthening primary healthcare which is at the grassroot level, he mentioned.
He further said that the government is trying to improve the overall healthcare system in the state. In this regard people’s cooperation is needed, he mentioned.
The ASHA workers are playing the role of linking between the grassroot healthcare service and the community, he said. He also appreciated ASHAs for their role during the COVID-19 pandemic. ASHAs are involved in maximum programmes and activities of NHM, he added.
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He also said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised the dedicated service of the ASHAs. ASHAs also play a connecting role during the nutritional and sanitary campaign of the department. ASHAs can take a bigger role to evade the social taboo about menstrual hygiene particularly the young girls, he added.
Speaking as president, director, Health Services Manipur Kh Sasheekumar Mangang said that ASHAs show their worth by their action not by words. There are a total number of 664,349 villages and 700.000 ASHA workers in India, he said. They have become interfaces between health functionaries and communities. ASHA workers should be given training in simple and easy ways, he added.
Director, National Health Mission, Manipur Dr Somorjit Ningombam shared the dais as guest of honor. Officials and staff of the Health department and NHM, Manipur and others also attended the occasion.
Later, Health minister also paid a surprise visit to the Medical Directorate office and conducted inspection of the medical store room of the directorate
