India’s ASHA workers win Global Health Leaders Award
India’s Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs) are among the six recipients of the WHO Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Award and have been recognised for their outstanding contribution towards protecting and promoting health. The award ceremony was part of the live-streamed high-level opening session of the 75th World Health Assembly on 22 May 2022.
ASHA, a Hindi word, which means hope, are the more than one million accredited female health workers in India, who have been honoured at the 75th World Health Assembly for their crucial role in connecting the community with the health system to ensure primary health care services. ASHAs support maternal care and immunization for children against vaccine-preventable diseases; tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, communicable disease prevention and control; and core areas of health promotion for nutrition, sanitation, and healthy living.
