Kohima, July 8 (MExN): Nagaland along with the rest of the country will observe Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) from July 11 to 23. The fortnight is being observed with a goal to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhea.
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 being intensified in the country because to the fact that diarrhoeal mortality in India still remains high in under-five children, especially those under 24 months of age, and ORS and Zinc usage rate remains low in many states and districts.
The Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) in convergence with allied departments of PHED, Social Welfare, Education, Indian Association of Pediatric Nagaland Branch (IAP-NL) and CBOs/ NGOs like Naga Mothers Association (NMA) will implement the activities in the schools to ensure proper hand washing techniques, Anganwadi Centers for ORS depot, and identifying children under five years of age and those suffering from diahorrea through the anganwadis. The Department has also appealed to the PHED on ensuring clean and safe drinking water in schools, Anganwadi Centers and health units. The NMA will also give directive to its women organization branches in the districts for creating awareness and sensitization and community participation in the district and block level.
This was discussed and decided during a State Level Steering Committee on IDCF meeting on June 24 at the Commissioner & Secretary, H&FW’s conference hall, Nagaland Civil Secretariat.
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.
A press release from Dr. Yankho Lotha, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Nagaland informed that reduction of childhood mortality is one of the prime goals of National Health Mission and childhood diarrhoeal disease continues to be one of the major killers among under five children in many states contributing to 10% of under five deaths in the country. Around 1.2 lakh children die due to diarrhoea annually in the country. Almost all the deaths 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 diarrhea, he added.
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.
Last year, a total of one lakh ORS and 91,500 Zinc tablets were distributed in the State. With an estimate of more than 2 lakh under 5 years of age according to 2011 census, National Health Mission aims to reach to all the children under 5 years of age in the State this year through medical practitioners, frontline workers like ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers. National Health Mission, Nagaland has appealed to every household having children under five years of age to avail the services which are 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. One can also contact their nearest health units or ASHA for more information.
