With diarrhoea being one of the common causes of death in children aged below five, the Health Department has launched an awareness initiative to take forward the vital role of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) in saving lives among mothers.
The department has launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight – from July 11 to 23 – at 1,559 anganwadi centres across the district. According to official estimates, there are 1,71,929 children aged below five in Vellore Health Unit Division (HUD) and 1,99,853 children in Tirupattur HUD.
“Diarrhoeal deaths continue to be high in children under five. Diarrhoea and pneumonia are the most common causes of death in this age group, but these can be easily prevented,” K.S.T. Suresh, deputy director of health services, Vellore said.
Controlling deaths due to diarrhoea can go a long way in bringing down infant mortality rate, he said, adding, “ORS is easily available and accessible. It is a readily available home-based remedy for diarrhoea. Timely replacement of salt can save lives.”
In a step towards taking the importance of ORS to mothers, the public health department is reaching them through anganwadi centres.
Apart from children coming to the centres, the anganwadi workers and village health nurses are also mobilising other children to the centres, the official said.
“We are educating mothers through awareness meetings at the anganwadi centres. We are providing them ORS packets and giving required instructions to prepare the solution at home. All they need to do is mix the powder in one litre of water and use it within 24 hours,” he explained.
Promoting breastfeeding
After a week, the department will embark on promoting breastfeeding practices.
“We are taking up measures to create awareness on infant and young children feeding practices. Mothers will be told that babies should be exclusively breastfed for first six months, and then gradually weaned,” Dr. Suresh said.
Children found to be malnourished during this initiative would be provided required support, he said.
Collector R. Nanthagopal launched the awareness initiative on Friday.
