BONGAIGAON, May 28 - There were no reports of deaths of children or adults due to diarrhoea in Bongaigaon district last year. To maintain the same record, the district health department has geared up to spread more awareness among the people on the disease which is the second leading cause of death in children under five years of age.
To achieve the goal, the Bongaigaon district health society and the National Health Mission (NHM) had jointly launched an intensified diarrhoea control fortnight campaign in the district today at a meeting held at the Pragati Bhawan here.
Dr MI Ahmed, district nodal officer of the District Health Society, explained the types of diarrhoea and measures to prevent deaths due to the disease which can be cured by administering right quantity of oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution and doses of zinc tablets to the patients under the supervision of doctors.
Dr Ahmed also called the people present in the meeting to use ORS packets which are supplied by WHO and available at health centres.
A practical demonstration was given in the meeting on how to prepare ORS solution by mixing a proper quantity of ORS with pure water. The ORS solution can be used within 24 hours after its preparation.
�Our district had witnessed no diarrhoea-related deaths last year. So, we are trying to achieve the same record this year also,� said Smita Roy Chakravarty, district programme manager of NHM.
In this fortnight which will continue till June 9 from today, awareness meetings will be held in vulnerable areas and ORS and zinc tablets will be distributed at some places, Anganwadi centres and houses by the ASHA workers, Chakravarty added.
ADC Dhrubajyoti Das, Joint Director (Health) Dr Ratna Basumatary, District Social Welfare Officer Hemi Borah, District Elementary Education Officer A Hussain and Bongaigaon Municipality Vice-Chairman Uday Das were also present in the meeting.
Staff Correspondent from Silchar adds: The intensified diarrhoea control fortnight campaign initiated by the National Health Mission, Cachar got underway in the district today.
Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri ceremonially inaugurated the campaign in the form of awareness rally from the SM Dev Civil Hospital.
Staff Reporter from Guwahati adds: With an aim to make the masses aware on the treatment of diarrhoea and importance of ORS and zinc tablet consumption, the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) was formally launched by the Kamrup Metro District Health Society at the Sonapur District Hospital, along with other districts of the State.
Dr Ulupi Phukan Baruah, Superintendent, Sonapur District Hospital, inaugurated the ceremony. An awareness meeting was conducted on the importance of ORS and zinc tablet consumption by children during diarrhoea.
Dr Ganesh Saikia, Joint Director of Health Services, Kamrup Metro, informed that this year Kamrup Metro has targeted an approximately 1,05,000 children under five years of age to cover during the IDCF, which will be observed till June 9.
