Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) provide crucial primary healthcare, focusing on Maternal & Child Health (prenatal, delivery, postnatal care, family planning), Immunization (vaccinations for all ages), Health Education (hygiene, nutrition, sanitation), Basic Medical Care (first aid, minor ailments, carrying essential meds), and Community Mobilization, acting as the first point of contact between communities and health services, especially in rural areas, to improve overall public health.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
Maternal & Child Health:
Provide antenatal (before birth) and postnatal (after birth) care.
Assist in normal deliveries and refer complicated cases to hospitals.
Care for newborns and promote breastfeeding.
Offer family planning and reproductive health services.
Immunization:
Administer vaccinations to children and women.
Maintain immunization records.
Health Education & Promotion:
Educate communities on nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, and disease prevention.
Counsel on birth preparedness, infant care, and contraception.
Basic Medical Care:
Provide first aid for injuries and treatment for minor illnesses (diarrhea, fever).
Carry essential medicines (ORS, iron tablets, etc.) for community use.
Monitor patient vital signs and report changes.
Community & System Support:
Facilitate access to existing health services and mobilize for health programs.
Maintain health records and report births, deaths, and outbreaks.
Work with Village Health Committees to create health plans.
Where They Work
ANMs are vital frontline workers in Community Health Centers, Sub-Centers, hospitals, clinics, and government health programs, bridging the gap between communities and formal healthcare.