Health Dept launches ORS-Zinc Campaign to curb diarrhoea-related child deaths
Special drive to run from July 1 to July 31; focus on children under five
Ferozepur, July 1, 2025: Under the directions of Civil Surgeon Dr. Rajwinder Kaur, the month-long Intensive Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) campaign has been launched across all health and wellness centers of Ferozepur district from July 1 to July 31. The primary objective of the campaign is to reduce the mortality rate among children due to diarrhea to zero.
Diarrhea, in simple terms, means having loose, watery stools more frequently than normal, typically three or more times a day. It can be a symptom of various conditions, ranging from minor infections to more serious digestive issues.
Dr. Rajwinder Kaur informed that children below the age of five will be covered under this initiative. They will be provided with ORS (Oral Rehydration Salt) packets and Zinc tablets. She emphasised that most diarrhea-related deaths in children can be prevented by the timely and correct administration of ORS and Zinc, along with proper nutrition.
During an awareness seminar organised by the Mass Media Branch at Civil Hospital Ferozepur, District School Health Nodal Officer Dr. Harpreet Kaur and Deputy Mass Media Officer Neha Bhandari addressed patients and their family members. They stressed the importance of hygiene, particularly washing hands with soap before feeding children, consuming clean and covered drinking water, and maintaining a clean environment. They also highlighted the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to strengthen immunity.
Mass Media Officer Sanjeev Sharma and Dy MMO Ankush Bhandari appealed for public support to achieve the target of zero child deaths due to diarrhea. ORS and Zinc corners have been set up at all health and wellness centres, and health workers will demonstrate the preparation of ORS. Furthermore, health workers will visit households during the campaign to educate people about the treatment and prevention of diarrhea.
The campaign aims to promote awareness, improve hygiene practices, and ensure timely treatment to safeguard children's health.