Health Minister’s strategies to control diarrhea

The third leading cause of child mortality is Diarrhea, which kills more than 200,000 children annually. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said health workforce at both the central and state levels would be mobilized to boost diarrhea-control measures.

Speaking at the launch of the nationwide ‘Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight’ (IDCF), the minister said that, “The measures are a set of activities which include enhancing advocacy, stepping up awareness generation, establishing more ORS-zinc corners, enthusing ASHA volunteers to reach oral rehydration solution (ORS) packets to families with children as well as detecting kids in need of treatment”

According to the WHO 760,000 children under the age of five die globally every year due to diarrhea. Diarrhea is often caused due to an infection, eating unhygienic food, drinking contaminated water or through transmission from an infected person.

Harsha Vardhan said a wider role for the community would be sought in creating awareness about the straightforward steps that can shun such tragedies