Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched the ‘STOP Diarrhoea’ campaign as part of its efforts to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality in the state.
In a letter to Collectors and Commissioners, the Health and Family Welfare Department called for an initiative, which will run from July 1 to August 31, 2024, aims to address diarrhoea, a major contributor to under-five deaths, accounting for about 10% of such fatalities.
This year’s campaign is part of a broader Integrated Campaign-2024, which also focuses on other health priorities including malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, leprosy, and immunisation.
The state government has decided to implement these activities in an integrated manner, recognizing the increased incidence of vector-borne diseases such as Malaria & Dengue during the monsoon season.
The campaign encompasses a wide range of activities at community, facility, and school levels. These include strengthening case management services at health facilities, establishing integrated Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) corners, and distributing Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets and Zinc tablets to households.
Additionally, the campaign will involve screening for tuberculosis and leprosy cases, testing for fever and suspected dengue cases, and identifying immunisation dropouts & leftouts and pregnant women not tested for Hepatitis-B.
Community engagement is a key aspect of the campaign, with ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists), AWWs (Anganwadi Workers), and ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) leading sensitization and mobilization efforts. The initiative also includes cleanliness drives, handwashing demonstrations, and educational sessions in schools to promote sanitation and hygiene practices.
The Health and Family Welfare Department asked all concerned authorities to ensure the successful implementation of the campaign.
District and block-level representatives of key stakeholder departments are expected to work closely with health department officials. The campaign is to be included as an agenda item in periodic meetings at both district and state levels to reinforce key messages and facilitate high coverage.
Also Read: Union Health Minister JP Nadda launches ‘STOP Diarrhoea’ Campaign
