EMN
Dimapur, July 14
Diarrhea continues to be a major killer among under-age-five children in the country with the disease contributing to 10.4% of under-age-five deaths. Around 1.4 lakhs children are lost due to diarrhea annually in the country, officials overseeing a diarrhea control program in Nagaland said during a recent meeting.
The district’s task force charged with the program met on July 14 in connection with the Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight, in the deputy commissioner’s office chamber in Kohima town. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Ruovilatuo Mor.
During the meeting, health official Dr. Avile Zao gave an outline of the Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight. She said that childhood diarrhea continues to be a major killer among under-age-five children in many states. This is contributing to 10.4% of under-age-five deaths in the country. Around 1.4 lakhs children are lost due to diarrhea annually in the country, she said. Zao also mentioned that almost all the deaths due to diarrhea can be averted by preventing and treating dehydration by using Oral Rehydration Solutions (or ORS) and administration of Zinc tablets along with adequate nutritional intake by child who suffer from diarrhea. The effect of diarrhea mortality remains high in children, the officials were told.
The officials have decided to organize Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight this year from July 27 till August 8. The aim of the event is ‘zero child deaths due to children diarrhea’ according to a publicity handout on Tuesday, July 14, from the health authorities.
Dr. Avile Zao added that the goal for the event was set by the government of India that by 2020, “awareness generation” for use of ORS and zinc in childhood diarrhea would improved and ultimately achieve ‘zero childhood diarrhea deaths’.
The officials were also briefed on the details of the event. From the 27th of July to the first of August as the focus would be on diarrhea-control related activities that comprise accredited health activists visiting homes distributing ORS packets and offering group counseling. They would also demonstrate ways to prepare zinc supplements. Other activities would be to establish ORS-zinc corners in every health units, and promoting prescription of ORS along with zinc dispersible tablets by health providers.
The second week of the program, which will start by August 3 and culminate on the 8th, would be observed as ‘Infant & Young Child Feeding week’. Dr. Zao informed the officials that during the ongoing programs, cooperation would be required from the Social Welfare and Education department.
