00:00 45-year-old community health worker Krishna Vats is visiting a new mother in her neighbourhood
00:06 today.
00:09 The mother Sarvesh has just given birth to her second daughter.
00:14 For six months, make sure that you just breastfeed the baby, no other food.
00:20 These visits are crucial for Sarvesh as Krishna helps her with essential medical guidance
00:25 and nutritional needs for her little girls.
00:29 Every month when I was pregnant, she would visit regularly, tell me when to go see the
00:33 doctor.
00:34 She would also provide basic medicines and advise me on the right diet.
00:38 She also makes sure that my kids get their vaccinations on time.
00:42 Krishna is one of the thousands of ASHA workers or accredited social health activists in the
00:47 country employed by the government to cater to the health care needs of their communities.
00:54 Women like her have played a key role over the past few years in bringing down the child
00:58 mortality rate in the country.
01:02 According to government data, statistics like the neonatal infant and under-five mortality
01:07 rates have seen a significant drop.
01:10 Dr. Sandeep Goyal, a public health specialist, also thinks that the ASHA worker programme
01:16 plays an important role.
01:18 We have seen a 30% drop in infant mortality from 2015 to 2023.
01:24 The government of India has many schemes which has focused on improving the child and maternal
01:28 health and which has led to consistent decline in child as well as maternal mortality in
01:36 India.
01:38 Educating people about the various government schemes is one of the many responsibilities
01:42 of Krishna and Ruby, another ASHA worker from the same area.
01:47 Together, both of them have ensured that every child in their neighbourhood is healthy.
01:52 Like three-year-old Myra here, who was born underweight, but with Krishna's and Ruby's
01:57 help quickly recovered.
02:00 ASHA workers like us reach places where the doctors can't.
02:05 We work in the area where we live.
02:07 People know us.
02:08 Earlier, people would not take correct medical advice.
02:12 We have educated them on the right steps to follow to raise a child and get them important
02:16 vaccinations on time.
02:20 Krishna is committed to her work and knows that what she does is crucial, as she believes
02:25 only strong and healthy children will be able to build a better future for themselves and
02:31 their country.
02:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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