More than 1.42 lakh children under the age of five year are being targeted in a diarrhoea prevention campaign that is going to be taken up by the Public Health Department and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), a Central Government-sponsored social welfare scheme.
The ‘Intensified Diarrhoea Control’ Programme would be undertaken from July 28 to August 8 across Tamil Nadu, S. Somasundaram, Deputy Director of Health Services, told The Hindu here on Thursday.
The campaign would focus on teaching simple but effective prevention methods such as proper handwashing techniques, which alone could prevent a host of other diseases as well. Maintaining of personal hygiene would also be emphasised.
All mothers having children under five years must know to administer ORS if the child had diarrhoea. This was the main objective of this campaign, he added.
D. Manimekalai, Project Officer of ICDS, said that more than 1,200 Anganwadi workers in the district would undertake a house-to-house campaign to distribute packets of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) with zinc.
The ICDS ran the Anganwadi centres, which provided nutritious food to the pregnant women and children below six years besides conducting immunisation, health check-ups and referral services.
Diarrhoea caused death by dehydration, which could be prevented by giving extra fluids at home, or by administering the ORS solution. The workers will also teach the households how and under which circumstances to administer the solution.
The village health nurses are going to conduct awareness programmes at health sub-centres. Proper breast feeding must be done for six months and supplementary diets with nutritious food must commence in the seventh month.
“Most parents reduce the food intake of children if they suffer stomach problems or diarrhoea, which is a huge mistake. The nurses and Anganwadi workers will counsel the parents to provide children suffering from diarrhoea with a lot of liquid food or fruits and vegetables with high water content,” she added.
The ICDS was also planning to conduct awareness programmes to mark Global Handwashing Day on October 15.
(EOM)
D. Manimekalai, Project Officer of ICDS, Coimbatore – diarrhoea
Only this year – we are starting this initiative – Coimbatore district – Anganwadi centres – 1,697 – workers 1,200 – we are planning to 1.42 lakh children – Coimbatore district – in all urban -
From July 28 – to August 8 – intensified diarrhoea control programme – objective across the State
Andangwai centres, VHN sub centres –
Anganwadi - House to house – containing under five children – Anganwadi workers will give ORS packets – quantity – we will teach them how to administer this – awareness programme - for those ORS with zinc – for controlling
Stomach problems = many stop food – this is wrong – also childnre must take lot of liquid food or items containing high water content
Diarrhoea – causes death in under five years – to reduce it – 11 to 13 per cent of under five death in India is caused by Diarrhoea
Cab ne prevented by hand washing techniqes , proper breast feedin gupto six months, form seventh month start of supplementary food containing nutritious material – this should be done propertly – Hand washing alone can prevent a host of techniques
October 15 – World Hand washing Day