Latest news with #ASHAs
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Dist health dept ramps up hepatitis screening and awareness
1 2 Ranchi: The Ranchi district health department has intensified surveillance, screening, and awareness measures against hepatitis under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP). It has targeted information, education, communication campaigns in schools, community centres, and health facilities. Health workers, including ASHAs and ANMs, are conducting household visits and educational talks to demystify hepatitis, promote vaccination, and guide high-risk individuals to testing centres. Experts said hepatitis, a liver disease caused by viral infections, alcohol consumption, and genetic disposition, continues to be a pressing health concern. Civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said, "Viral hepatitis is a silent danger that often goes undetected until irreversible liver damage has occurred. We are working to ensure early detection and access to treatment for all through free diagnostics and care at govt facilities." In the 2023–24 financial year, Hepatitis B screening (excluding pregnant women) began in June 2023 with 344 samples tested. The number rose to 607 in July 2023, 815 in December 2023, 1,026 in February 2024, and 686 in March 2024. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo In the 2024-25 financial year, 2,032 samples were screened in April 2024, 4,114 in May 2024, and 2,558 in June 2024. Samples screened ranged from 2,210 to 3,138 per month between July 2024 and March 2025. A total numnber of 3,138 samples were screened in September 2024, the highest figure in this period. The district also reported a rise in Hepatitis C (Anti-HCV) testing, with 2,141 samples tested in April 2024, 3,418 in May 2024, and 2,513 in June 2024. Testing figures remaining above 2,400 in most months, peaking at 2,969 in December 2024. While only 12 positive cases were reported in April 2024, 962 were recorded in May 2024. A total of 63 positive cases were detected in February 2025 and 19 in March 2025. Pregnant women, a priority group for early detection to prevent vertical transmission, were also increasingly covered. A total of 252 pregnant women were tested in April 2023, 1,539 in March 2024. In 2024–25 financial year, 1,773 pregnant women were tested in April and an average of 1,500 to 2,800 throughout the year. District data manager Sanjay Tiwari said, "The data shows that an increasing number of people are coming forward for testing. We offer free screening for Hepatitis B and C and immediate linkage to treatment." The head of hematology dept with the Ranchi Sadar Hospital, Dr Abhishek Ranjan, said, "Hepatitis A and E, often caused by contaminated water or food, remain a concern in rural areas, particularly during the monsoon. People should not delay testing, especially if they have a history of unsafe injections, blood transfusions."
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
ASHAs urges Kerala govt. to keep its promise by increasing honorarium
Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA), welcoming the decision of the National Health Mission to moderately increase the incentives and retirement benefits for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), has demanded that the State government keep its promise to the them. In a statement here, KAHWA reminded the State government about its promise to increase the honorarium for ASHAs if the Union government was prepared to hike the incentives paid to them. The strike by a section of ASHA workers in the State, demanding a hike in honorarium as well as a better pay package, has crossed 170 days. Garnered national attention It was the agitation by the ASHAs in Kerala that brought national attention to the 'exploitation' faced by this category of health workers and their poor pay and service conditions, elevating it to a significant labour movement. ASHAS who have been agitating in front of the Secretariat since February 10, had sought a hike in the honorarium paid by the State, along with pension and retirement benefits. Their strike had made national headlines and their demands had figured in both Houses of Parliament, thanks to the outpouring of public support for the demands they raised. KAHWA said that their agitation garnered widespread support because their demands were just. It said that it was the intense public scrutiny that forced the Centre to announce an increase – even if it was a nominal one – in ASHAs' incentives. KAHWA said that it had clearly communicated to the leaders of national parties who had visited them at the agitation venue that it was up to the State government to hike the honorarium while the hike in incentives had to be done by the Centre. The Centre had not hiked the incentives for ASHAs in a decade or more It said that the Chief Minister and other senior officials had said several times that they would increase the honorarium if the Centre hiked the incentives. The Centre has now declared a hike in retirement benefits from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000. The State government should take a cue from the West Bengal government and provide a retirement benefit of ₹5 lakh to ASHAs. It should also stop slashing the fixed incentives given to ASHAs by attaching new eligibility criteria to it, KAHWA said. It also urged the authorities to implement the decisions of the Central NHM without delay.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
ASHAs to continue stir till demands met
T'puram: While the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have welcomed the Centre's decision to raise their monthly incentive to Rs 3,500, they said they will continue their ongoing strike until the state govt increases their honorarium. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With their strike completing 169 days on Saturday, ASHAs said they wanted the state govt to increase its share correspondingly. The state govt stated that they have increased their share of the honorarium to the maximum and have set up a committee to study the problems faced by the health workers under National Health Mission. On Saturday, the ASHAs remained at their protest location in front of the Secretariat. Their leader Mini S said the protest would continue until the state govt increases its share. The state share is Rs 7,000. After the increase by Centre, ASHAs will now receive Rs 15,000 as honorarium. However, many other states, including Maharashtra, are giving Rs 10,000 as their share, she added. BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, meanwhile, said the central govt has kept its promise and the state should promptly increase the wages of ASHAs. The central govt has reiterated in Parliament that decisions on administrative and human resource issues, including those of ASHAs in the health sector, should be made by the respective state govts, he added. The central govt is providing all possible benefits for ASHAs, recognising them as frontline warriors in the health sector, Chandrasekhar said. tnn
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Renovated public health centre inaugurated in Koothattukulam
Kochi: The renovated Paitakulam Public Health Centre in Koothattukulam municipality was inaugurated by municipal chairperson Vijaya Sivan on Saturday. Renovation work was completed at a cost of Rs 7 lakh allocated to the centre under National Health Mission. Services from a team including junior public health nurse (JPHN), junior health inspector (JHI), mid-level service provider (MLSP) nurse and ASHAs are available at the public health centre. Working hours are from 9am to 4pm. Municipal vice-chairman Sunny Kuriakose presided over the meeting. Health standing committee chairperson Shibi Baby, councillors John Abraham, P R Sandhya, Baby Keeranthadam, block medical officer Dr Divya K Balakrishnan and Koothattukulam Community Health Centre superintendent Dr Jojo John spoke at the event. People's representatives, health department officials, ASHAs, and cultural and social leaders participated.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Agitating ASHA workers in Kerala welcome Centre's reported incentive hike
The ASHA workers in Kerala who have been agitating for the last several months against the state government demanding a hike and post-retirement benefits, on Saturday welcomed the Centre's reported decision to increase their fixed monthly incentive. They said the union government's decision would be beneficial for over 10 lakh ASHA workers in the country. There are media reports that the Centre approved a proposal to hike the fixed monthly incentive of ASHAs from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 during the recent 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG). The media also reported that the retirement benefits of the ASHA workers would be increased by the Centre, too. S Mini, state vice president of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA) whose members are carrying out the indefinite agitation in front of the Secretariat here, said they had already carried out two Parliament marches raising the same demand. "We welcome the union government's decision to increase the fixed monthly incentive. The incentive had been the same so far since the scheme was launched 18 years ago. We have been demanding the Centre to increase this," she told reporters here. She said the Members of the Parliament from the state visited them when they began the agitation in front of the Secretariat on Feb 10 and assured them to take up the matter with the union government. The present decisions were a continuation of the assurance given by the MPs, she said. The leader said the fixed monthly incentive of the ASHA workers was now raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 and the retirement benefit was increased from Rs 20,000 to 50,000 by the Centre. "But, we will end our ongoing agitation only when the state government increases the honorarium as demanded by us," Mini said, adding that the state authorities could enhance it easily. A section of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers have been protesting outside the secretariat since February 10, demanding a hike in their honorarium from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000 and a post-retirement benefit of five lakh rupees. Asha workers in Kerala receive an honorarium of Rs 7000 -- given entirely by the state. The fixed incentives are given in a 60-40 ratio by the Centre and the state.
