WHO honours India's one million all-women ASHA workers for contribution to advancing global health

India's one million all-women ASHA workers were awarded and honoured by WHO for their 'outstanding' contribution to advancing global health, demonstrated leadership and commitment to regional health issues. They were honoured for their crucial role in linking the community with the health system and ensuring those living in rural poverty can access primary health care services, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

WHO has said that 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. 

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. The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced six Global Health Leaders Awards. Dr Tedros himself decides on the awardees for the World Health Organization Director-General's Global Health Leaders Awards.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed happiness that the entire team of ASHA workers have been conferred the WHO  Director-General’s Global Health Leaders’ Award. In a tweet, Mr Modi congratulated all the  ASHA workers for this. The Prime Minister said that they are at the forefront of ensuring a healthy India and their dedication and determination is admirable.