SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN/MAWKYRWAT: The Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) was launched in three districts on Wednesday with an aim to reduce child mortality in the state.
TS Nongkhlaw, Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) and joint mission director for the National Health Mission (NHM), launched the programme at Ganesh Das Hospital in the city. The programme was organised by NHM-Meghalaya with an aim to start the fortnight across the state from August 1 to 14.
Diarrhoeal diseases continue to be a major killer among children of age group 1-5 years in several states contributing to 10 per cent deaths of children below 5 years of age in the country. Reducing child mortality from 39/1000 in 2016 to 23 by 2025 is one of the primary goals of the National Health Policy 2018.
In Nongstoin, the programme was launched by West Khasi Hills district medical and health officer Dr WW Phira in presence of local MLA Macmillan Byrsat. Addressing the gathering, Byrsat said the campaign has been launched nationwide and will cover all villages as well as schools.
“The campaign will create health awareness, besides providing medicines,” he said.
Pediatrician W Langbang informed the gathering that ASHA workers will visit all households with children below 5 years of age for pre-positioning the ORS and they will explain its benefits. The campaign will be carried out through CHC, PHC and health sub-centres for two weeks.
South West Khasi Hills DC Isawanda Laloo launched IDCF and Breastfeeding Week (Mother’s Absolute Affection) at the Community Health Centre in Mawkyrwat.
“Prevention is better than cure. The objective of the campaign is to create awareness on the importance of prevention and the key points to eradicate diarrhoea, a waterborne disease… as well as the importance of breastfeeding,” Laloo said.
The overall objective of IDCF is to ensure high coverage of ORS and zinc use rates in children with diarrhoea throughout the country with emphasis on the high priority areas and vulnerable communities, along with inculcating appropriate behaviour in caregivers of children for diarrhoea prevention and management.
The ORS and Zinc use rate remains low in many states. At national level, there is an improvement of ORS coverage from 26 per cent in 2005–06 to 50.6 per cent in 2015-16 and Zinc from 0.3 per cent in 2005-06 to 20.3 per cent.
Through this fortnightly campaign, the State Health Department and NHM have appealed to parents to avail these services which are provided for free by the Government for the betterment of the health of the children in the state and prevent serious complications which could be fatal.