With a view to take preventive measures in orde to put a check on diarrhoea, the Haryana Government is planning to launch a State-wide special campaign in the next three months.
Haryana Health Minister, Rao Narender Singh said this campaign would be launched with the slogan Jodi No. 1 and aims at spreading awareness regarding the importance of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets and zinc tablets which help to control and manage diarrhea.
Under this campaign, ASHA workers would reach out to rural households with children, under the age group of five years, for the distribution of ORS and Zinc tablets free of cost. Similarly, in urban areas, it would be distributed through the Urban Health Centres or dispensaries, he added.
He said that during the campaign, the department would generate awareness through Information, Education, Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
activities and mass media regarding sanitation and hand washing practices, continuation of breast feeding during diarrhoea and importance of increased liquid intake to prevent dehydration.
The Minister said that diarrhoea alone contributes about 12 per cent of mortality in children below 5 years of age every year.
“The Department has ensured that each and every Government hospital and health institute should have proper arrangements for diarrhoea patient,
packets of ORS and zinc tablets,”
he added.