ASHA workers, frontline warriors battling much more than just Covid

By Mohammed Shafeeq

Hyderabad, May 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) They are at the frontline in the war against Covid-19 but despite risking their lives, they are the lowest paid among the healthcare workers.

Despite the danger of contracting the virus and all odds including the opposition from the family members and the neighbours, ASHA workers are discharging their duties in containment zones or the areas which reported Covid-19 positive cases.

With just a mask and gloves as their protective gear, they go door-to-door in scorching heat to gather details of each household, find out if any family member is carrying suspected symptoms and check their body temperature with a thermal scanner.

ASHA or Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers are like the foot soldiers in the battle against Covid. As the containment area covers about 50 houses around the household with positive cases and even deaths, they run the high risk of contracting the infection.

"What if any of the residents we are screening is positive. This fear always lurks in our mind," ASHA worker Shiva Jyothi told IANS while on duty at a containment centre in Toli Chowki area.

Shiva Jyothi and Lavanya were doing their duty in a colony, where according to them, a household recorded 10 positive cases including three deaths.

"It's a thankless job. We are neither paid properly nor we get any recognition. Even the people here feel that we are spreading the infection. They allow their maids into the house despite this being a containment zone but they are scared of us," said Lavanya.

The ASHA workers face resistance from their own family members. The reports of five ASHA workers in Punjab testing positive have only added to their fears.

"My husband and mother-in-law ask what will happen to the family if you return home with an infection. It is very difficult to convince them," said Shiva Jyothi, 35, who works at a government-run hospital in Filmnagar.

Lavanya, who is from another hospital in Golconda, said even their neighbours raise objections. "They ask probing questions about our work and suspect that we may spread the virus," said the 29-year-old.

Their day starts at 9 a.m. and after going door-to-door in a containment zone till 3 p.m., they have to go to their respective hospitals to submit the daily reports and it will be 6 p.m. by the time they return to their house. "We then get busy in cooking and household works and begin another day with the same challenges," said Jyothi, who has been working as an ASHA worker for 15 years.

She recalled that when she started working she used to get a paltry Rs 50 as monthly remuneration. It was later gradually revised upwards. Though the monthly pay was hiked to Rs 7,500 in 2018, the actual payment will be much less as it will be outcome-based.

"We have to bring four pregnancy cases every month and have to ensure at least two institutional deliveries. They pay Rs 60 to Rs 170 for each case. Similarly we have to meet other targets to be eligible to get the monthly remuneration. How can we get four pregnancy cases from the same area every month," asked Jyothi.

ASHA workers complained that they are not paid for the work taken from them during elections. They are yet to receive the payment for work done during the previous two rounds of pulse polio programmes.

They have been promised Rs.750 per month for the work during Covid-19. "This is the second month but we are yet to get even this amount," said Lavanya.

They said they were not even provided lunch while on duty. "We don't even get water. It's not worth taking such a risk for our lives and also for our near and dear ones," they said.

Telangana has over 27,000 ASHA workers.

(Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)

Source: IANS