Steps taken to prevent diarrhoea

To treat dehydration caused by diarrhoea, about 1.80 lakh children aged below five will be given oral rehydration salt during the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight Campaign from May 28 to June 9 in the district.

At a campaign organised by the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the District Headquarters Hospital here on Monday, District Revenue Officer S. Kavitha distributed ORS fluids to children.

Officials said that 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 through Oral Rehydration Therapy.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the ORS, which is simple and effective way to treat dehydration caused by diarrhoea.

Nurses at the 14 block level primary health centres, 46 sub-centres along with the 2,080 anganwadi workers will undertake house-to-house campaign and distribute packets of ORS to the children for two weeks. Zinc tablet will be provided to the children if they were suffering from diarrhoea.

During the second week of the campaign from June 4 to 9, mothers will be explained the importance of breast feeding too. Parents will be asked to wash their hands with soap and water before preparing the solution. Officials said that the solution would not stop diarrhoea, but prevent the body from drying up. As many as 1,80,443 children will be given the ORS during the campaign in the district.

Joint Director of Health Services T. Kanakachalakumar, Deputy Director of Medical Services P. Balusamy, were present.