Celebrating Heroes: Bihar’s Heartwarming Initiative to Honor ASHAs and Boost Family Planning Efforts

I never imagined something like this could be done for me. I had always observed the birthdays of others, but my birthday had never been celebrated like this before. For the first time, I cut a cake, and it felt incredibly special.

The Medical Officers in Charge at UPHCs also appreciated the birthday initiative, noting significant improvements in coordination and relationships with the community health workers. They observed that ASHAs felt more connected, leading to increased work efficiency. This newfound motivation resulted in better preparation of eligible family planning client lists, increased attendance at family planning fixed-day static services, and an overall rise in client flow at the UPHCs.

The graph illustrates a substantial increase in the uptake of modern contraceptives across 60 UPHCs in the seven TCI intervention cities in Bihar, correlating to increased ASHA activity. The significant rise highlights the impact of the ASHAs’ efforts in promoting and facilitating access to modern contraceptive methods within their communities.

ASHAs’ birthday celebrations foster a deep sense of belonging and appreciation among them. In Bihar, these occasions have become more than just a date—they serve as a tribute to the invaluable contributions of these public health heroes.