Reduction of childhood mortality to 23 per 1,000 live births by 2025 is one of the prime goals of National Health Policy. Childhood diarrhoeal diseases continue to be a major killer among under-five children in many states, contributing to 5.8 percent of under five deaths in the country (Cause of Death Statistics 2017-19, Sample Registration System of Registrar General of India). Around 50,000 children die due to diarrhoea annually in the country. Diarrhoeal deaths are usually clustered in summer and monsoon months.
Diarrhoea is considered when the stools have changed from usual pattern and are many and watery (more water than faecal matter). Almost all the deaths due to diarrhoea can be averted by preventing and treating dehydration by using ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and administration of Zinc tablets along with adequate nutritional intake by the child during diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea can be prevented by exclusive and continued breastfeeding, timely introduction of appropriate and safe complementary feeding, use of safe drinking water, hand washing, sanitation and immunization.
To effectively address the issue, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has renamed Diarrhoea Campaign as “STOP Diarrhoea Campaign”, 1st July – 31st August 2024 with the slogan for the year 2024: “Stop Diarrhoea through Hygiene and ORS” with the ultimate goal to reach zero child deaths due to diarrhoea.
The objective “STOP Diarrhoea Campaign” is a preparedness activity to address potentially high incidence of diarrhoea during the summer/monsoon season and floods / natural calamity. The objectives are:
• To ensure high coverage of ORS and Zinc usage in children with diarrhoea
• Inculcating appropriate behaviour in care givers for diarrhoea prevention & management of under-five children
The focus is on delivery of simple proven interventions that have large impact towards control of childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality. The strategy is four folds, as below: 1) Improved availability and use of ORS and Zinc at household level 2) Facility level strengthening to manage cases of dehydration 3) Enhanced advocacy and communication on prevention and control of diarrhoea through Information, Education and Communication (IEC)/Social Behaviours Change Communication (SBCC) campaign 4) Intersectoral convergence of relevant ministries and stakeholders for preventive measures
The activities under the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign include
At Community / Village Level
• Distribution of ORS and Zinc (14 tablets) and demonstration at the household level
• Establishment of ORS and Zinc corners for treatment of diarrhoea at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) level
• Inter Personal Communication (IPC) activities by health department (MOs, Staff Nurses, CHOs, ANMs, ASHAs) in close coordination with other departments such as Women & Child Development, Rural Development, Urban Development, Jal Jeevan Mission, Panchayati Raj, Food and Public Distribution, Education, Information & Broadcasting on diarrhoea prevention and management
• Hand washing demonstration in schools, out-reach sessions, VHNSD/UHSND and AWCs and ensuring relevant hand washing posters are displayed
• Mobile health teams for urban areas & hard to reach area.
At Health Facility Level
• Establishment of ORS and Zinc corners for treatment of diarrhoea
• Promote standard case management of diarrhoeal cases
• Cleaning of water tanks in health facilities, provision of safe drinking water
Convergence of allied departments STOP Diarrhoea Campaign involves coming together of different departments like School Education (Hand washing demonstration and provision of safe drinking water), Women & Child Development (ORS-Zinc corners in Anganwadi centers and nutrition support), Jal Jeevan/PHED/PWD (Sanitation and safe drinking water) and others including RD, Urban Development and IPR. The civil administration also has a responsibility in bringing all these departments together. Awareness generation needs the active involvement of church, the village health committees, NGOs and support from the media.
Issued by Directorate of Health and Family Welfare
