GUWAHATI: Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and National Health Mission (NHM) in Assam have formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday. The agreement aims to leverage the strengths of both missions to enhance project implementation, particularly by involving Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers.
The convergence of the Jal Jeevan Mission and the National Health Mission is poised to amplify the impact of their respective initiatives.
While JJM focuses on providing access to quality water, the collaboration will also contribute to curbing waterborne diseases, ultimately reducing the burden on NHM.
The preventive aspect ranges from addressing common issues like diarrhoea to tackling vector-borne diseases such as Malaria and Japanese encephalitis.
ASHA workers, being the backbone of rural healthcare, will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the missions and the local community.
Their established trust and connection within rural areas position them as effective communicators for health-related issues and the benefits of clean water. The collaboration aims to reduce school dropout rates among children and minimize medical expenses for families by preventing waterborne diseases.
Minister for Public Health Engineering, Jayanta Mallabaruah, emphasised the correlation between the Jal Jeevan Mission and the National Health Mission, stating that both missions are working in tandem to ensure the well-being of every rural household, as per reports.
He expressed confidence that this collaboration would not only complement JJM's goal but also contribute to the sustainability of piped water supply schemes.
Keshab Mahanta, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, pledged NHM's full support to the initiative, highlighting its commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of every individual. The collaborative effort intends to go beyond immediate gains and focus on sustained improvements in the health conditions of the rural population.