Nagaland to observe Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight from June 12 to 24
Kohima, June 9 (MExN): Nagaland will observe Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) from June 12 to 24 with a goal to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea.
Reduction of childhood mortality is one of the prime goals of National Health Mission and millennium Development Goals. Around 2 lakh children die due to diarrhoea annually in the country. Diarrhoeal deaths are usually clustered in summer and monsoon month. The worst affected are malnourished children and children under two years of age. Almost all the death due to diarrhoea can be averted by preventing and treating dehydration by the use of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and administration of Zinc tablets along with adequate nutritional intake by the child during diarrhoea.
This year IDCF approaches will be on improved availability and use of ORS and Zinc at the community; facility level strengthening to manage cases of dehydration; and enhanced advocacy and communication on prevention and control of diarrhea through IEC campaign.
Ensure high coverage of ORS and Zinc use
The objective is to ensure high coverage of ORS and Zinc use rates in children with diarrhea prevention and management of under-five children, with emphasis on the high priority areas and vulnerable communities. The activity is been intensified in the country due to the fact that, Childhood diarrhoeal disease continues to be one of the major killers among under five children in many states contributing to 11 percent of under five deaths in the country.
Govt dept and NGOs to implement activities
A press note stated that the Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) in convergence with Allied Department of PHED, Social Welfare, Education, Indian Association of Pediatric Nagaland Branch (IAP-NL) and CBOs/ NGO’s like Naga Mothers Association (NMA) will implement the activities in the schools in ensuring proper hand washing techniques, Anganwadi Centers for ORS depot and identifying children under five years of age and suffering from diahorrea through the anganwadis and the Department also appealed to the PHED on ensuring clean and safe drinking water in schools, anganwadi centers and health units.
Prog to cover children under 5 years
During the fortnight, a set of activities will be implemented in an intensified manner for prevention and control of death due to dehydration caused by diarrhoea across the country which are- intensification of advocacy activities, awareness generation activities for diarrhoea management, strengthening service provision for diarrhoea case management, establishing ORS- Zinc corners, distribution of ORS and Zinc by ASHA to household with under-five years of age children and awareness generation activities for sanitation and hygiene.
ORS and Zinc to be provided free of cost
National Health Mission, Nagaland has appealed to every household having children under five years of age to avail the services which is been provided for free during the fortnight i.e. a packet of ORS for all household with children under five years of age and ORS and Zinc for household with children suffering from Diarrhoea. The nearest Health Units or ASHA can be contacted for more information.
.JPG)
