‘Diarrhoea leads to fluid loss, may be life threatening’

Dimapur, May 27 (EMN): Targeting children below five years, Wokha district will observe Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) from May 28 to June 8.

DC Wokha, Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon, IAS, who is also the chairman of IDCF said that diarrhoea is one of the diseases which causes deaths in children below five years of age. He has urged all the stakeholders of the district to come forward and help the implementing agencies to reach the goal of zero death rate in the district since the disease is preventable and treatable.

District Immunisation Officer, Dr. Khalito said that “for prevention and treatment of diarrhoea in the district, the implementation agency has already targeted ten thousand children below five years of age to be administered ORS and Zinc at households throughout the one hundred thirty seven (137) villages and thirty seven (37) colonies in the urban areas in the district.”

Khalito went on to say that the implementing agency will target three key areas to combat the disease, for which the ASHA workers will supervise the programme in the rural areas while the Anganwadi workers will carry it out in the urban areas, informed an update from DIPR. On the second key area, the implementing agency has identified 52 Heath Units, one district hospital, 12 CHCs, 12 PHCs and 37 Sub-Centres, where ORS and Zinc coverage will be put up for treatment of diarrhoea cases.

On the third key area, DIO said that the implementing agency will reach out to various educational institutions in the district to create awareness on preventive measures; and that school health team, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karya Kram (RBSK) will conduct hand-washing demonstration for prevention of diarrhoea.

“Diarrhoea leads to fluid loss, and may be life threatening, particularly in young children and people who are malnourished or have impaired immunity,” said DIO. It is a gastrointestinal infection and the infection spreads through contaminated food or water or from person to person as a result of poor hygiene, added the officer.

Rotavirus Vaccine coming to Mokokchung

Mokokchung District Task Force Committee (MDTFC) conducted a meeting on introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine, a universal Immunisation Programme and Diarrhoea Control Fortnight programme, in the district at ADC Planning’s Conference Hall on May 27.

The programme was chaired by ADC, Manpai Phom in the presence of CMO Mokokchung, Dr. Chubala Aier, said an update from DIPR.

The ADC urged all the line departments and NGOs present in the meeting to co-operate and contribute their best for the success of the programme.

While briefing the meeting, Dr. Ayangla Saku DPO (UIP/RCH) Mokokchung said that Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) will be conducted from May 28 to June 8 June in the district and Rotavirus Vaccine Campaign in June. She informed that IDCF is a preparatory and awareness programme before the onset of monsoon as cases of diarrhoea occur and become epidemic in this season.

On the Rotavirus Vaccine, which will cover babies up to six months old, Saku urged the participants to spread the importance of the vaccine to all the stake holders.