Zero child death due to diarrhoea: IDCF 2018 launched
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2018:
With the main objective of making 'zero child death" due to childhood diarrhoea in the State, Directorate of Health Services, Manipur and State Health Society, NHM, Manipur launched Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) 2018 today.
The launch function of IDCF-2018 which held at the conference hall of JNIMS was graced by L Jayantakumar Singh,Minister, Health & Family Welfare, N Bandana Devi, State Mission Director, NHM, Th Kirankumar, Director Education (S), Dr K Rajo Singh, Director, Health and Family Welfare Services and Th Bhimo Singh, Director, JNIMS as the chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
Speaking at the function, Jayantakumar pointed out that diarrhoea is one among the many things that has been taken very lightly and often neglected in the Manipuri society although the disease happens to be one of the most common illnesses that can turn fatal if not treated.
He went on to state that proper medical attention should be given to prevent diarrhoea and other diseases among children while observing that a society cannot be prosperous without healthy children and women.
Conveying that both the Central and State Governments are giving special emphasis on uplifting women and protecting children for the prosperity of the State and country as a whole the Minister maintained that IDCF-2018 is also a part of the initiative taken up for the welfare of women and children.
He asked the Health Department, Social Welfare Department, Education Department and other line departments to work in tandem saying that collective efforts will be required for effective implementation of IDCF programme.
Noting that creating awareness about diarrhoea and its, preventive measures to the public, more importantly to the; illiterate people and remote areas where their lifestyle is un-hygienic is a must, he suggested the departments concerned to display billboards and posters for IDCF besides reaching out to the public through meetings and interactions.
He also said that ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, nurses and other concerned staffs of the State Government have immense responsibility to make the IDCF programme successful.
Bandana stated that the efforts to reduce deaths due to diarrhoea have been intensified with the introduction of IDCF since 2014 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
She also highlighted that the prevalence rate of diarrhoea among children in Manipur was found highest in 2014 while consumption of ORS with Zinc tablets was lowest during the same year.
Stating that ORS and Zinc tablets would be made available at all PHCs, CHCs, Anganwadi centres and with ASHA workers, Bandana continued that high risk priority population among the general population of the State have also been identified and mobile teams for this group of population have been sent out in all districts.