Union Government launches Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight

July 12, 2016

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched a nationwide Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) to check child diarrhoeal deaths.
The IDCF drive was launched by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda in New Delhi. It will be observed from 11th to 23rd July, 2016 across the country.
Key Facts

  • The IDCF drive is a very cost -effective intervention to curb the risk of spread of diarrhoea which scales up during monsoon season
  • Intensified community awareness campaigns on hygiene and promotion of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) and Zinc therapy will be conducted at state, district and village levels.
  • Under this initiative, government aims at covering over 80 per cent of children (of the 10 crore children below five years of age) affected by diarrhoea across the country.
  • The importance of this drive is that to make ORS available in the household when needed at the time of diarrhoea.
  • ASHAs will visit all households with children below 5 years of age for pre-positioning the ORS. They will also explain the benefits of these.
  • All health facilities will have ORS corners which will continuously demonstrate the way to prepare the ORS mixture.
  • These corners will also administer ORS and Zinc to children who are in need of these during diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea

  • Diarrhoea is caused by various virus, bacteria and protozoa like rotavirus, E.coli etc.
  • The main reasons for diarrhoeal attacks amongst children are contaminated water, inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene, malnutrition and lack of immunisation.
  • The combination of ORS and Zinc is the most cost-effective intervention to prevent deaths due to diarrhoea.
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