“Educated citizens of Agartala city do not cooperate with ASHA workers during survey work: Mayor.”

Mayor Deepak Majumdar inaugurated the SAANS-25 programme at the Bhati Abhaynagar Primary Health Centre to protect children from pneumonia. This programme is implemented across India mainly from November to February.

This initiative of the National Health Mission aims to successfully carry out social awareness and action to eliminate pneumonia. To tackle childhood pneumonia, children can be protected by observing whether a young child with fever is breathing rapidly, noticing any physical discomfort, seeking quick medical attention, ensuring timely vaccination, and providing proper treatment. Through awareness and proper care, deaths from childhood pneumonia can be reduced.

Inaugurating the programme, the Mayor said that pneumonia is the leading cause of child deaths in India. To reduce such deaths, mothers must remain aware, and children must be given pneumonia vaccines on time. He added that ASHA workers play a special role in the healthcare system.

However, he expressed regret that when ASHA workers go to conduct surveys in the homes of the educated and well-mannered citizens of Agartala city, they do not cooperate. “They are not truly aware,” he said. Because they are economically well-off, they prefer private and advanced services instead of government services, and therefore do not assist ASHA workers.

He further stated that if ASHA workers face any obstruction while conducting surveys in the municipal areas, the matter should be brought to the notice of the elected representatives, and necessary intervention will be taken.