Various districts in Nagaland launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) on June 5. IDCF is being organised from June 5 to the 17 with an objective to attain zero number of child deaths due to diarrhoea and aims to create mass awareness
DIMAPUR — Various districts in Nagaland launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) on June 5. IDCF is being organised from June 5 to the 17 with an objective to attain zero number of child deaths due to diarrhoea and aims to create mass awareness about the most effective and low-cost diarrhoea treatment—a combination of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) solution and Zinc tablets.
Longleng: Longleng division of the Health department conducted an orientation programme for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA)-cum-launching of Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) on June 5 and 7 respectively in the conference hall of the CMO’s office, Longleng.
An update from CMO’s office stated that Dr. Imnameren Phom, DPO (UIP/RCH), officially launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight 2023 on June 5 and oriented the ASHA from Yongnyah block and Longleng II block and for Longleng I block on June 7.
Dr. Phom informed that the ultimate goal of IDCF was to achieve zero child death due to diarrhoea. He underlined various activities to be implemented in an intensified manner during IDCF 2023 for prevention of deaths due to dehydration from diarrhoea.
He requested all the ASHA to distribute their work in order to cover all the households with children less than five years and demonstrate the method of ORS preparation and create awareness on prevention of diarrhoea. He further urged all healthcare workers to promote the importance of hand washing.
Altogether, 107 ASHA were trained during the programme and a total of 5000 ORS sachets and 60,000 zinc tablets were distributed to all the health units and also to the ASHA.
Wokha: IDCF in Wokha district was launched by Dr. Thunchangpeni Patton, district immunisation officer, during a programme held in the conference hall of the CMO’s office on June 5.
Speaking at the launch programme, Dr. Patton informed that the fortnight is being observed to prevent diarrhoea related deaths among young children across the country. She informed that diarrhoea is preventable by following proper measures and seeking medical treatment.
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Dr. Patton urged the ASHA to work together with Anganwadi workers for distribution of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), zinc tablets and sensitise on personal hygiene. She further encouraged the healthcare workers to demonstrate the steps of hand washing, set up of ORS corner at health centres and prepare ORS during village health sanitation and nutrition Days.
The programme was attended by medical staff and urban ASHA of Wokha district.
Kohima: In another programme, office of the chief medical officer of Kohima along with the district health society, NHM, launched the IDCF at Porterlane UPHC on June 5.
Speaking on the occasion, the deputy CMO of Kohima, Dr. Imchatoshi, stated that focus should be made on sanitation mainly on personal and community hygiene where the prevalence of diarrhoea is still high in places like Dimapur and Kohima.
HCMC chairman, Dr. Sweyievisa John, has assured to carry out all activities.
Dr. Khrievilhou, DPO (RCH/UIP), informed that diarrhoea is still high in India among children below five years of age. He added that ORS and zinc combination has decreased the deaths of diarrhoea cases.
The vote of thanks was pronounced by Avikali Jakhalu, DPM (NHM).
Zunheboto: District Health Society (DHS), Zunheboto, launched the IDCF at Government Middle School, Old Town Zunheboto and across all health units in the district on June 5.
The deputy CMO of Zunheboto, Dr. K Akaho Sema, who also launched the programme, spoke on the importance of hand washing and maintaining good hygiene to prevent diarrhoea. He also stressed on the use of ORS and Zinc during diarrhoeal episodes among children stating that it is a safe treatment.
Dr. Atoikali, medical officer (MMU) Zunheboto, demonstrated on home-based ORS preparation to the participants, while Dr. C Zhekheli Chishi, district epidemiologist, demonstrated on the different techniques of hand washing to the students.
