Dimapur, July 8: Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland would observe Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) from July 11 to 23. The fortnight is being observed with a goal to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhea. The objective is to ensure high coverage of ORS and Zinc use rates in children with diarrhea prevention and management of under-five children with emphasis on the high priority areas and vulnerable communities.
The activity is been intensified in the country due to the fact that diarrhoeal mortality in India still remains high in under-five children especially those under 24 months of age and ORS and Zinc usage rate remains low in many states and districts.The Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), in convergence with allied departments including PHED, Social Welfare, Education, Indian Association of Pediatric Nagaland Branch (IAP-NL) and CBOs/ NGOs like Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), would implement the activities in the schools in ensuring proper hand washing techniques, Anganwadi Centers for ORS depot and identifying children under five years of age and suffering from diahorrea through the Anganwadis.
The department also appealed to the PHED on ensuring clean and safe drinking water in schools, Anganwadi centers and health units. NMA would also give directive to its women organization branches in the districts for creating awareness and sensitization and community participation in the district and block levels.
This was discussed and decided during a State level Steering Committee on IDCF on June 24 in the Commissioner and Secretary of H&FW conference hall, Nagaland Civil Secretariat, under the chairmanship of Senti Ao, Secretary of H&FW.
This year IDCF approaches would focus on (i) Improved availability and use of ORS and Zinc at the community (ii) Facility level strengthening to manage cases of dehydration and (iii) Enhanced advocacy and communication on prevention and control of diarrhea through IEC campaign.
Reduction of childhood mortality is one of the prime goals of National Health Mission and childhood diarrhoeal disease continues to be one of the major killers among children under five years in many states contributing to 10% of deaths in the country. Around 1.2 lakh children die due to diarrhoea annually in the country.
Almost all the deaths due to diarrhoea could be averted by preventing and treating dehydration by the use of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and administration of Zinc tablets along with adequate nutritional intake by the child during diarrhoea.
During the fortnight, a set of activities would be implemented in an intensified manner for prevention and control of death due to dehydration caused by Diarrhoea across the country which are- intensification of advocacy activities, awareness generation activities for diarrhoea management, strengthening service provision for diarrhoea case management, establishing ORS- Zinc corners, distribution of ORS and Zinc by ASHA to household with under-five years of age children and awareness generation activities for sanitation and hygiene.
Last year, a total of one lakh ORS and 91500 Zinc tablets were distributed in the State. With an estimate of more than 2 lakh under 5 years of age according to 2011 census, National Health Mission aims to reach to all the children under 5 years of age in the State this year through medical practitioners, frontline workers like ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers.
Meanwhile, National Health Mission appealed to every households having children under five years of age to avail the services which is being provided for free during the fortnight i.e a packet of ORS for all household with children under five years of age and ORS and Zinc for household with children suffering from Diarrhoea. Concerned persons could also contact the nearest health units or ASHA for more information.
