Swasthya Sakhis Strengthen Healthcare Access for Rural Women

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 11 September 2026

As part of efforts to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure, ‘Swasthya Sakhis’ or health companions have been appointed to support healthcare services in villages. They will focus on improving awareness around health, nutrition, hygiene and gender-related issues.

In rural communities, women often hesitate to discuss or seek treatment for health problems due to limited awareness and social hesitation. Swasthya Sakhis aim to bridge this gap by connecting local women with the health department and promoting awareness about essential healthcare services.

Deputy Commissioner (NRLM) Shama Singh said women from self-help groups have been engaged as ‘Swasthya Sakhis’ under the State Rural Livelihood Mission to make healthcare more accessible and effective in rural areas. In Prayagraj district, 1,208 women from various SHGs have been assigned the responsibility.

There was a transparent selection process and a written examination at the block level, which was given to eligible women. The selected candidates were given special training in maternal and child health, first aid, nutrition, immunisation etc., which they disseminated in rural belts of the district, to increase awareness of health.

Key Highlights:

• 1,208 women in Prayagraj have been trained as Swasthya Sakhis to improve rural healthcare awareness
• They support women with maternal health, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, immunization and basic screenings
• The initiative also provides women with social recognition and financial support through an honorarium

Swasthya Sakhis are women who are themselves members of the self-help group which they work with. Thus, women are not afraid of speaking to them about physical ailments, pregnancy related problems, and menstrual hygiene etc. and can discuss their health freely with them.

Swasthya Sakhis have been working as a good connection between the rural families, ASHA workers, ANM and nearby health centres, added Singh. They play a major role in ensuring that people in the village are taken for their check-ups on time, and receive proper nutrition for pregnancy; making sure that institutional deliveries are made and ensuring women are transported to the primary and community health centres to give birth; carrying out regular screening of basic health parameters using primary health kits, and coordinating with Anganwadi workers and ANMs for regular immunization of infants and prevention of malnutrition.

Besides, Swasthya Sakhis also have to ensure that each pregnant woman is connected to govt welfare schemes and immediately send her to the hospital through ‘102’ ambulance or ‘108’ ambulance in the event of childbirth or sudden ailments.

The role of ‘Swasthya Sakhis’ in the strengthening and expansion of the healthcare services in trans-Ganga and trans-Yamuna regions is very important. They are paid an honorarium for their work, and thereby they are able to raise their social and economic status.

District mission manager (Prayagraj) Viraj Singh states that Swasthya Sakhis need not work each day for the month. They work for at least 10 days and get Rs 200 per day for their work.

Sarasita Pal, who works as a Swasthya Sakhi in Madhopur village in Soraon block, uses the time she has after doing household work to do her work of a Swasthya Sakhi, telling her that she gets a monthly honorarium of up to Rs 2,200 for it. She saves this amount so that she can use it to support her family.

Sonam, a resident of Dudi Bagh village in Phulpur states that in this capacity, she has acquired a new identity in the village and neighborhood, assisting the women. She holds greater respect and the honorarium is the income to run the household.