ASHAs

Of the hundreds of pictures I've taken on this trip, this image of the ASHAs from the National Rural Health Mission is one of my favorites. The ASHAs are Accredited Health Activists who are selected to act as intermediaries between their villages and the public health system. The photo reflects the positivity with which the ASHAs approach their duty of educating and engaging members of the community, despite the dire public health situation that surrounds their village. It is empowering and inspiring to see these women take the health of their community into their hands. As the ASHAs show us around the village they nurture with dedication, the effectiveness of their work becomes more and more evident. They are more than happy to showcase their spirited community, filled with healthy mothers and lively children.

In some ways, these ASHAs represent what we all desire and find difficult to obtain in the US - a personal health advocate, who is culturally competent and sensitive to one's changing needs. While the ASHAs live in a world so drastically different from the one we are familiar with, we can learn a lot about delivering care just by observing their enthusiasm and passion for health in their community.