Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight begins
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 06 2022: Child Health Division of State Health Society under National Health Mission (NHM), Manipur and Directorate of Health Services jointly inaugurated the 'Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight' on the theme of Zero Death due to Childhood Diarrhoea' at the conference hall of JNIMS here on Wednesday.

Presided over by Health Services director Dr K Rajo, the inaugural function was attended by Education (S) director L Nandakumar as chief guest, while Social Welfare director Ngangom Uttam, Family Welfare director Dr Dihe Mao and Public Health & Engineering Department chief engineer Shangreiphao Vashumwo were present as guests of honour.

Delivering the keynote speech, State Nodal officer (Child Health) Dr A Sylvia said that despite there being treatment facilities, the number of children dying due to diarrhoea is high.

Around 6.4 children in the age group of 0 -6 years die from diarrhoea i.e., around 64,000 children die every year.

In Manipur's context, the prevalence rate is around 5.6 percent.

Stating that diarrhoea is a treatable ailment, Dr Sylvia also explained that the deaths are mainly due to dehydration.

Consumption of simple Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS), Zinc tablets for improving the immune system and key nutritional foods help in diarrhoeal treatment.

To prevent diarrhoeal episodes, infants up to 6 months of age should only intake the mother's milk, to be more precise immediately one hour after birth.

After six months, supplementary foods could be introduced.

Those taking care and feeding of the infant should maintain proper hand hygiene and sanitation and children should also receive all the necessary inoculations, she maintained, adding that all of the above will be made aware to parents/guardians during the fortnight-long programme, in addition to distribution of ORSs and Zinc tables at Anaganwadi centres and houses with children.

The main targets of the programme are children (0-5 years), parents, caretakers, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, she remarked.

In his speech as the chief guest, L Nandakumar said that the main focus of the programme is children in the age group of 0-5 years, while emphasising the importance of awareness in controlling diarrhoea.

He then said that the media plays a key role in this regard.

He then cited a report of the Education Department, which states that around 5.6 lakh children are enrolled.

As such, the education department also played an important role in this regard, Nandakumar stated and assured of extending all possible help in this regard.

Informing that the No School Bag' programme on every Saturday is focus on encouraging extra-curriculum activities, the director informed that as part of this programme, residential camp is set to begin from August and discussion programmes with experts and demonstrations would also be conducted.

As part of the inaugural function, a demonstration was given on how to wash hands in a hygienic manner and how to prepare ORS solutions.

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