Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has intensified its efforts to contain the spread of diarrhoea, a major contributor to childhood deaths, by launching the ‘STOP Diarrhoea’ campaign. The initiative aims to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality, with a focus on preventive measures and early treatment.
In a letter to Collectors and Commissioners, the Health and Family Welfare Department emphasized the importance of the campaign, which will run from July 1 to August 31, 2024. The campaign will be implemented in an integrated manner, addressing diarrhoea control, malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, leprosy, and immunization.
Key activities include:
– Distribution of ORS packets and Zinc tablets to households
– Strengthening service provision for case management at facilities
– Establishing integrated IEC corners
– Screening for TB, leprosy, and dengue cases
– Identification of immunization dropouts and pregnant women not tested for Hepatitis-B
– Cleanliness drives and community sensitization
The government has urged all stakeholders to support the campaign, which aims to ensure zero child deaths due to diarrhoea. Representatives from key departments will coordinate with the Health and Family Welfare department for effective implementation.
District authorities have been directed to issue similar directives to concerned departments to facilitate high coverage and reinforce key messages. The campaign’s success relies on collective efforts to combat diarrhoea and other vector-borne diseases.
