It is important that an ASHA feels motivated to work in FP and with first-time parents. Hence it is important to coach ASHAs on government schemes related to FP, such as the Ensuring Spacing at Birth scheme (ESB). It lays out attractive outcome-based remuneration to frontline health workers for encouraging the adoption of spacing methods. Under this scheme*, ASHAs are reimbursed a little over $6 for their services in counseling women to delay first childbirth and a two-year spacing between subsequent births. The ESB reimbursement is processed only when the woman adopts a method and continues with a method for two years.
This scheme had remained underutilized in urban locations. ASHAs were mostly unaware of this scheme and the required paperwork for claims. With no claims being processed, the know-how in processing this claim was missing among the city governance teams.
The TCIHC team advocates, in close coordination with the government, developed simple, easy-to-understand steps for submitting claims. The steps were distributed via handouts and integrated into a coaching session between ASHAs and their supervisors. Additionally, the team coached city governance staff responsible for claiming reimbursement on the required paperwork for the ESB scheme.
*Editor’s note: Programs seeking to implement a similar scheme should verify requirements. USAID’s family planning programs are guided by the principles of voluntarism and informed choice. Information on these principles can be found on the USAID website.