Health Dept launches diarrhoea control drive

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 9

The Health Department has launched a two-week Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight programme to step-up efforts to contain child mortality rate in the district.

During the programme, parents would be sensitised to prevention of the disease and how maintaining personal hygiene can keep their children from falling prey to the disease that is the second leading cause of death in children under five years.

Civil Surgeon Dr Hari Narain Singh inaugurated the programme where doctors from the Women and Children Hospital also addressed parents about the treatment of the disease and its prevention.

The Civil Surgeon said, “Spreading awareness regarding diarrhoea can save lives of many children. Through our two-week long exercise, we would focus on sensitising parents to various preventive techniques and make them aware of what to do when their children are affected with diarrhoea. ASHA workers are roped in to distribute ORS (Oral Rehydration Therapy) sachets in the district. The programme will help us bring down the child mortality rate.”

The doctors mainly focused on proper hand washing techniques and following proper diet regimen when affected with diarrhoea.

Dr Satish Jindal, paediatrician at Women and Children Hospital, said, “It has been observed that a majority of parents visiting the hospital do not know the right technique to wash hands and maintain personal hygiene. Subsequently, their kids become more prone to diahhroea and other abdominal complaints.”

Dr Jindal added, “Apart from taking ORS, taking zinc tablets to prevent recurrence of the disease is must. Consuming clean drinking water (filtered/boiled or chlorinated) and hygienic food is vital to keep the disease at bay. Exclusive breastfeed for infants for first six months and after that home cooked food items such as coconut, whey (lassi), rice water and curd is good for children. Juices and glucose must not be given to children affected with diarrhoea.”