Government starts diarrhea control campaign

KOLKATA: The state government has started conducting an Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF) campaign from July 28. The campaign will continue till August 8.
One of the main goals of conducting this initiative is to reduce childhood mortality. According to health department officials, childhood diarrhea diseases continue to be the major reason for children death under the age of five, contributing to about 11 percent of under five deaths in the entire country and around 2 lakh children succumb to diarrhea annually.
The campaign is highlighting several issues with the aim of reducing diarrhea deaths by at least 50% in this year in phases. Awareness generation, procurement and supplies, sensitisation of health workers and system strengthening will be the major issue. Next the authorities will be stressing on setting up ORS corners at all sub centres, distributions of ORS packets to all households having children under the age of five years, community demonstration of preparation of ORS in every villages and urban communities.
In the next phase, prophylactic distribution and treatment and management of dehydration and diarrhea will be done. Officials said that most cases of childhood diarrhea can be prevented by using safe drinking water, improving the sanitation condition, breastfeeding and proper hand washing and cleanliness.