ASHA Workers win WHO Health Leaders Award, PM Congratulates

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi congratulated all ASHA staff who have received the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General's Global Health Leaders' Award on Monday saying that they are at the forefront of a campaign to ensure a healthy India.

The Prime Minister said on Twitter, “Delighted that the entire team of ASHA workers has been conferred the WHO Director-General’s Gold Health Leaders’ Award. Congratulations to all ASHA workers. They are at the forefront of ensuring a healthy India. Their dedication and determination are admirable.”

ASHA is a group of more than 1 million female volunteers in India. They are honored to have played an important role in connecting the community to the medical system and ensuring access to essential medical care for people living in rural poverty throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an official statement by WHO, ASHA work to provide mothers care and children for vaccine-preventable diseases, community medicine, treatment of hypertension and tuberculosis, and core areas of health promotion for nutrition, hygiene, and healthy life. 

The award ceremony which was established in 2019, was part of the line-streaming high-level opening session of the 75th World Health Assembly. 

WHO Secretary, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced six Global Health Leader Awards. He himself will determine the World Health Organization Director General's Global Health Leader Awards.