Special camps from May 28

To treat dehydration caused by diarrhoea, about 1.80 lakh children in less than five years of age will be given oral rehydration salt (ORS) from May 28 to June 9 in the district.

Officials of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said that due to dehydration, much liquid was drained out of child’s body and it was essential that the child was given extra drinks to replace the lost liquid.

Most of deaths due to diarrhoea are caused by dehydration and are preventable.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the ORS, which is simple and effective way to treat dehydration caused by diarrhoea. Hence, workers at the 2,080 anganwadis in the district along with village staff nurses in sub-centres will undertake house-to-house campaign and distribute packets of ORS to the children for two weeks.

Mothers would be explained how to administer ORS if the child had diarrhoea. Zinc tablet will be provided to the children if they are suffering from diarrhoea.

Officials said that parents would be asked to wash their hands with soap and water before preparing the solution. The officials said that the solution would not stop diarrhoea, but prevent the body from drying up.

District Collector S. Prabhakar in a press release said that 1,80,443 children will be given the ORS during the campaign.