Diarrhoea-control fortnight campaign launched

Mohali, July 4

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Tej Partap Singh Phoolka, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Punjab, launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF)-2022 at a state-level event at the District Hospital here today. The IDCF programme is being implemented from July 4 to 17 across the state. Its goal is to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea in the state.

Phoolka said the drive would cover around 33 lakh children under 5 years of age across the state, who will be given ORS packets and zinc tablets. Almost all deaths due to diarrhoea could be averted by administering the right quantity of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) and doses of zinc tablets along with adequate nutritional intake by the child.

Phoolka solicited the support of public to achieve the goal of zero death due to diarrhoea in the state. He said ORS and zinc corners had been set up in all government health facilities across the state and health workers would hold demonstrations on how to prepare ORS solutions.

Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Ranjit Singh Ghotra said during the campaign, health workers would reach every household and sensitise the people to the treatment and preventive measures to control diarrhoea. He said diarrhoea could be prevented by increasing access to safe drinking water, improving sanitation and hygiene, breastfeeding for at least six months, hand washing and appropriate nutrition. Intensified community awareness activities on the necessity of maintaining hygiene and promotion of ORS and zinc therapy for the treatment of the disease would be conducted at the district and village levels.