Imphal, May 29,
Health & Family Welfare Minister L. Jayantakumar Singh launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight, 2018 at the Conference Hall of Jawahar Lal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Porompat, Imphal East yesterday.
Speaking at the occasion as the Chief Guest, Minister Jayantakumar said that collective effort is quite necessary to control diarrhoea. He said that mass awareness is also required for successful implementation of the intensified diarrhoea control fortnight.
Diarrhoea is a disease which everyone has heard about from the past many years but fighting this deadly disease needs proper attention and effective measures. He said that departments like PHED, Health, Social Welfare and Education need to join hands together so that mass awareness about control of the disease can be given to the public to enable curbing the disease.
For a healthy society, we need the children to stay healthy. For a healthy child, a healthy mother is a must, he added.
Minister asserted that educated people can easily understand about the pros and cons of the disease and its solution but it is very hard for those who are illiterate especially the people residing at remote places of the state. So, it is required for the various departments to make a joint effort to give awareness to the people at the remote places about the disease, its cause and cure.
Minister also appealed the public that it is necessary for the people to know the traditional method of oral rehydration like the salt-sugar solution for immediate supplementation in absence of ORS and Zinc solution.
The minister also opined to make avail the Zinc and Oral Rehydration Solution in the schools. He also instructed the concern HoDs to join in the campaign by instructing their subordinate staffs so to make the campaign a grand success.
Demonstration for proper hand washing to be followed before any meal was also exhibited by the doctors as a part of the campaign. Selected children were also given ORS and Zinc supplements by the Chief Guest and the dignitaries on the dais.
Speaking as the functional president, Director, National Health Mission, Smt. N. Bandana Devi, IAS said that the objective of organising the fortnight is to reduce the death rate resulting from diarrhoea to zero. She also informed that mothers need to take a major role in teaching their children on how to lead hygienic life.
Th. Kirankumar Singh, IAS, Director Edn.(S), Dr. K. Rajo Singh, Director, Health Services, Dr. Th. Bhimo Singh, Director, JNIMS and Dr. H Ranjit Singh, Addl. Director, Health Services Manipur also attended the function as the Guests of Honour.
Officials and staffs from Health, PHED, Education, National Health Mission, doctors and nurses were also present at the inaugural function.
