Udaipur, July 28 (TIWN): With the aim to intensify awareness over prevention of diarrhea, Ratan Bhowmik, Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation department today initiated the Gomati district level Diarrhea Prevention Fortnight programme at Garji Hospital. It would continue till August 08. While addressing the programme, Minister Ratan Bhowmik urged the people’s representative, health staff and Panchayats to work jointly for intensifying the awareness among the mass over prevention of diarrhea.

The fortnight programme would be observed across the state. The main objective of the programme is to intensify the diarrhea control activities which will help in preventing deaths due to childhood diarrhea. Aiming to implement the programme, Panchayats have been conducting campaigns through rural health and nutrition day. The programme would be implemented in two phases.

The activities which would be carried out in the phases include home visit by ASHA to every household that has under-five child for intensification of advocacy activities, awareness generation activities, diarrhea management service provision, establishment of ORS-Zinc corners, ORS distribution by ASHAs, hand washing practices and demonstrations in schools, detection of under nourishment in children and their treatment and promotion of infant and young child feeding activities.

“Mother’s breast feed plays the vital role in preventing diarrhea”, said Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Gomati district Dr. Nirumohan Jamatia while addressing the programme.  Bhowmik said, “The state government has taken initiative to set up 100 percent scientific lavatories in each house”.

 Considering the meeting over prevention of diarrhea held here on July 17, DM Sonal Goel said, “Though the intensity of diarrhea came under control to a huge extent, special initiatives are taken in Gomati district along with the concerned departments”.

The orators focused on the use of boiled water for drinking purpose in order to prevent diarrhea. Vector-borne disease Control Officer Dr. Debasish Das, SDM Ajit Debnath and Garji Primary Hospital Rogi Kalyan Samity Chairperson Urmila Reang remained present there in the programme.