The Health Minister of Telangana, T Harish Rao, announced that Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in the State will now receive maternity leave with pay, like other women employees. This decision was made during a review meeting where the crucial role played by ASHAs and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) in providing quality medical services to people at the grassroots level was acknowledged. The Chief Minister also emphasized Telangana’s commitment to providing the highest salaries to these dedicated healthcare workers in the country.
In the past, ASHAs had protested to secure wage hikes and timely remuneration, but since the formation of Telangana, significant improvements have been made with wages being increased threefold. Minister Harish Rao has directed Health Secretary Rizvi and Family Welfare Commissioner Shweta Mahanthi to conduct a comprehensive study on the implementation of maternity leave with pay for ASHAs and ANMs.
Telangana Health Day, celebrating the state’s remarkable progress in the healthcare sector over the past nine years, is scheduled to be held on June 14. The occasion aims to showcase the outstanding achievements of Telangana’s healthcare sector across various departments, highlighting the transformative impact on the lives of its citizens.
The government hospitals in Telangana have made remarkable progress, particularly in the domain of deliveries, achieving a historic record of 69% of all deliveries taking place within their premises in April. Efforts will be concentrated in districts where the proportion of government hospital births is lower than the state average.
Furthermore, the Minister instructed the Joint Director of the Immunization Department to take necessary steps to improve immunization rates in Suryapet district. The Minister also emphasized the importance of enhancing health services provided at sub-centres.
