Creation of a cadre of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) was done under this mission?

Appeared in: MNS 2024

Explanation

The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) cadre was created as a key component of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
NRHM was launched by the Government of India on April 5, 2005, with the primary goal of improving healthcare access and quality for the rural population.
The creation of the ASHA cadre was a core strategy to bridge the gap between the community and the public health system, ensuring better access to primary care, health education, and mobilization for services.

Option A: The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was launched in 2013, much later than the creation of the ASHA cadre. Its focus is on the urban poor.
Option C: Mission Indradhanush is a specific, targeted program launched in 2014 to boost immunization rates. It is not a comprehensive health mission and did not create the ASHA cadre.
Option D: The Reproductive and Child Health Programme (Phase II) was launched in 2005 but was subsequently integrated into the broader NRHM. The creation of ASHAs was a flagship strategy of the overarching NRHM, not just the RCH-II component.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Origin and Programmatic Association of ASHA Cadre as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the role of ASHAs is critical for nurses, as they are the primary link for community mobilization, health education, and follow-up for programs like antenatal care, immunization, and institutional deliveries.
ASHAs have significantly contributed to the reduction of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India by promoting institutional deliveries and essential newborn care.
What if? If a nurse is posted in an Urban PHC, they would collaborate with an Urban ASHA (USHA), whose role is adapted to the specific challenges of urban slum populations under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'ASHA' (Accredited Social Health Activist).
This is a factual recall question about national health programs in India.
Recall or deduce the primary focus of each mission listed in the options.
Associate 'ASHA' with its foundational program. The 'R' in NRHM (Rural) is a strong clue, as ASHAs were initially conceived for rural areas.
Eliminate the other options: NUHM is for urban areas and was launched later, Mission Indradhanush is for immunization, and RCH II was a component within the larger NRHM.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 133-135

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 104-106

Practise the full MNS 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.