AP to launch anti-diarrhoea drive from June 16

Vijayawada: Aimed at preventing diarrheal cases among children during the ensuing monsoon season, the state govt will launch the ‘Stop Diarrhoea’ campaign from June 16. The campaign will continue till July 31 and cover more than 37.53 lakh children below the age of five.

Under the programme, each eligible child will receive two oral rehydration solution (ORS) packets and 14 Zinc tablets for free. Health officials said a total of 95.37 lakh ORS packets and 5.25 crore Zinc tablets have been earmarked for distribution across the state.Health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav said ANMs and ASHA workers will visit households and Anganwadi centres to distribute ORS packets and Zinc tablets. Government hospitals have also been equipped to provide the supplements to children exhibiting symptoms of diarrhoea.

Alongside the distribution of medicines, awareness programmes will be conducted on breastfeeding, hand hygiene, safe drinking water and hygienic food practices.Citing recent health data, the health minister noted that diarrhoea remains one of the leading causes of child mortality in India. However, the prevalence of diarrheal cases among children under five has declined from 7.2 percent in NFHS-5 to 4.8 percent in NFHS-6, reflecting improvements in sanitation, drinking water facilities and public awareness.The campaign will be carried out in coordination with the departments of women and child welfare, panchayat raj and rural development, municipal administration, school education and the Jal Jeevan Mission.