Chandigarh, July 8, 2015: Haryana Health Department would launch an Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF 2015) from July 27 to August 8 under which parents of 25 lakh children of upto five years of age would be made aware for prevention and protection against diarrhoea.
This was revealed in a meeting held under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Health, Mr. R.R. Jowel here today.
Mr. Jowel said that during the fortnight, ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers would visit all house holds to identify sick children. During the first week, medicines would be provided to safeguard children against diarrhoea and to reduce the mortality rate and parents would be made aware to promote breast feeding. During the second week, emphasis would be laid on improving the eating habits of children, weight them and give proper counseling to undernourished children.
He said that the IDCF 2015 programme would be started at district and state level and it would be carried to village, municipality, municipal council and municipal corporation level. Meetings of Village Health Sanitation, Nutrition and Water Committees would be organized in each village during the fortnight. Also, wall paintings regarding the importance of safe drinking water would be made, issue of open defecation and hygiene would be addressed.
Mr. Jowel said that rallies and competitions would be organized at schools regarding importance of hygiene, sanitation and safe drinking water. People would be educated about use of ORS and Zinc during diarrhea.He said that wide publicity of the IDCF 2015 regarding use of ORS and Zinc during diarrhoea would be done. Under this, people would be made aware of the use of radio, television, news papers and other mediums. He said that last year about 20 lakh children were covered under a similar fortnight and counseling was provided to about 15 lakh families. / (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)