The roles and responsibilities of an ASHA include the functions of a healthcare facilitator, a service provider and a health activist. Broadly, her functions involve providing preventive, promotive and basic curative care in a role complementary to other health functionaries; educating and mobilizing communities particularly those belonging to marginalized communities, for adopting behavior related to better health and create awareness on social determinants, enhancing better utilization of health services; participation in health campaigns and enabling people to claim health entitlements. She is also providing a minimum package of curative care as appropriate and feasible for that level and making timely referrals for further treatment.
Her roles and responsibilities are as follows:
- ASHA have to take steps to create awareness and provide information to the community on determinants of health such as proper diet and nutrition, basic sanitation and hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions, information on existing health services and the need for timely utilization of health and family welfare services at doorsteps.
- ASHA have to conduct home visits of the pregnant women/mother/newborn under Home Based Post Natal Care (HBPNC), and they are supposed to counsel pregnant women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common infections including Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Infection (RTIs/STIs) and care of the young child.
- ASHA have to mobilize the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related services available at the village/sub-center and other public health facilities, such as Routine Immunization (RI), Ante Natal Check-ups (ANCs), Post Natal Check-ups (PNCs), sanitation and other services being provided by the Government.
- ASHA have to work with the Village Health Sanitation Nutrition Committee/Village Level Committee (VHSNC/VLC) of the Gram Panchayat to facilitate a comprehensive village health plan with ANM, AWWs and PRI members.
- ASHA have to mobilize targeted community once in a month for the celebration of Village Health Nutrition Days (VHND) at their Aanganwadi Centre. The ANM, AWW, Members of VHSNC and community people are expected to participate in the celebration of VHND.
- ASHA have to arrange escort/accompany pregnant women & children requiring treatment/ admission to the nearest pre- identified health facility i.e. Primary Health Centre/Community Health Centre/ First Referral Unit (PHC/CHC /FRU).
- ASHA have to provide primary medical care for minor ailments such as diarrhoea, fevers, and first aid for minor injuries. ASHA are also acting as Dot Providers of Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).
- ASHA are also acting as a Depot Holder for essential provisions being made available to every habitation like Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORS), Iron Folic Acid Tablet (IFA), chloroquine, Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK), Contraceptives (Condoms, Oral Pills, Emergency Pills), etc. Provision of Drug Kit and HBPNC Kit has been made for ASHA. Contents of the Drug/HBPNC Kits are based on the recommendations of the expert/technical advisory group set up by the Govt of India.
- ASHAs' role as a service provider is being enhanced subsequently. State makes provision of graded training to ASHA for providing newborn care and management of a range of common ailments particularly childhood illnesses.
- ASHA are expected to provide first information about the births and deaths in her village and any unusual health problems/disease outbreaks in the community to the SC/PHC/CHC or directly to the District Authorities or even to the State HQ at the NRHM Help Line.
- Fulfillment of all these roles by ASHA are envisaged through continuous training and up- gradation of their skills over the years.