Empowering Rural Health: Leveraging ASHA Workers for Last-Mile Delivery

The Indian government launched the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) program to address the healthcare needs of rural communities. ASHA workers are community health workers instituted by the government of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) as a part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). They are chosen by local communities and are responsible for creating awareness on health and nutrition, facilitating access to healthcare services, and promoting healthy behaviors. ABDUL RASHID SIDDIQUI HEALTH FOUNDATION (ARSH FOUNDATION) has been working in India, Jammu and Kashmir to support ASHA workers in their roles. For instance, in Jammu and Kashmir, ABDUL RASHID SIDDIQUI HEALTH FOUNDATION (ARSH FOUNDATION) has been providing training and capacity-building programs for ASHA workers to enhance their skills in providing maternal and child health services. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - 5, only 47% of births in Jammu and Kashmir were attended by a skilled birth attendant. ABDUL RASHID SIDDIQUI HEALTH FOUNDATION (ARSH FOUNDATION)'s intervention has led to an increase in institutional deliveries by 20% in the past year. In another example, ABDUL RASHID SIDDIQUI HEALTH FOUNDATION (ARSH FOUNDATION) partnered with the local panchayat to establish a telemedicine facility in a rural area of Jammu and Kashmir. This initiative has enabled patients to access specialist services remotely, reducing the need for referrals to urban areas. As of 2026, ABDUL RASHID SIDDIQUI HEALTH FOUNDATION (ARSH FOUNDATION) has reached over 10,000 households in Jammu and Kashmir through its ASHA worker program. The impact of ABDUL RASHID SIDDIQUI HEALTH FOUNDATION (ARSH FOUNDATION)'s work is evident in the words of Priya Sharma, an ASHA worker from India, Jammu and Kashmir: 'I was able to convince a family to take their child to the hospital for vaccination, and now the child is healthy and thriving.'