World Vision estimates that “more than 115 million children worldwide are subjected to the worst forms of child labour, including trafficking for commercial sex exploitation and hazardous physical labour”.
ASHA is committed to the detection and eradication of the exploitation of children, through a commitment to the protection of children and the most vulnerable from all forms of violence and abuse (neglect, physical, emotional and sexual).
ASHA remains firmly committed to helping child victims of abuse to be rehabilitated and supported to recover from their trauma and in so doing put closure to their horrific experiences of trafficking and exploitation.
USAID reports that:
“In 2011, 6.9 million children died before their fifth birthday. That same year, 287,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth and there were 390,000 new HIV infections in children…Infectious, life-threatening diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria are further exacerbated by endemic rates of malnutrition and poor access to health services.”
According to UNESCO 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school. A UNDP study found that the global literacy rate for adults with disabilities is as low as 3% and 1% for women with disabilities.
The OECD reports that students with disabilities in higher education remain under-represented, although their numbers are on the increase. ASHA Initiative works closely with all like-minded agencies and organisations towards the elimination of discrimination in the field of education and health care.
WHO reports that “achieving health targets depends on equitable access to a health system that delivers high quality services.”
ASHA believes that Women should be guaranteed equal access to health care services, including family planning. ASHA continues to campaign for Governments around the world to ensure that women receive appropriate services relating to maternity, including free services where needed, and adequate nutrition. ASHA particularly feels that Rural Women are largely marginalised and disenfranchised.
How we help:
-
ASHA Initiative works to promote women’s (particularly rural women) equal rights to:
Access health care including family planning;
Obtain formal education or vocational training;
Organize groups and cooperatives to pursue economic opportunities;
Access agricultural credit and loans;
Access marketing facilities and technology;
Enjoy equal treatment in land and property ownership;
-
ASHA works with other partners to provide ad hoc medically staffed walk-in open days in local and rural hospitals free of charge.
-
ASHA works with partner agencies to provide clean solar lamp for rural dwellers to reduce the dependency, risk and use of kerosene lamps.
-
ASHA works to set up a health co-operative (thrift & savings scheme) in rural areas to fund emergency medical treatment of rural dwellers especially women, girls, children and PWD.
-
ASHA pioneers a digital and social media market place where rural women and girls can sell their produce and products to the highest bidder.