Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda interacts with students during a workshop in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) With an aim to reduce under-five mortality, the government today launched intensification efforts to control childhood diarrhoeal deaths. During the coming fortnight, ORS and zinc therapy will be distributed at state, district and village levels. To reach every home, ASHA workers would undertake the distribution of ORS packets to households with children under the age of five years in her village. The government will also set up ORS-Zinc corners at health care facilities and also at schools and anganwadi centers to raise awareness and distribute packets of ORS and zinc free of cost.

CK Mishra, additional secretary in the health ministry, said this “simple and doable” method of distribution of ORS and zinc packets could avert hospitalisation and deaths among children. Last year, 21 lakh children who were suffering from diarrhoea, were given ORS and zinc. “It is the most critical period as this is just the onset of monsoon and diarrhoea is beginning to show up, maximum cases of diarrhoea are expected during this time. This intervention is the most cost effective with which we not only stop diarrhoea but also prevent deaths.” Of the total deaths in children under five years of age, 10 per cent is attributable to diarrhoea.

The Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) will be observed from 11th to 23rd July across the country. During the next 15 days, the ASHA workers will visit all families with children under five years of age and deliver ORS wherever needed.

“All health facilities for the next 15 days will have ORS corners. Last year we reached out to 6.3 crore children. The target is to reach ideally every home but government is targeting at least 8 crore children this time,” added Mr Mishra.

While the official figures to announce the success of the programme is yet to come, officials are confident about the results that it could have brought. In India only 54.4 per cent children suffering from diarrhoea receive ORS or home available fluids. 30 per cent children are malnourished and hence are more at risk of getting diarrhoeal infections.

There are about 10 crore children below the age of five years across the country. In order to ensure a sturdy mechanism for monitoring, 23 national monitors shall assess the efficacy of the activities this year. This shall be complemented by monitors from the state governments and development partners.