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New Delhi, 24 June 2024 – In a significant step towards improving child health in India, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, launched the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024 today. The event saw the presence of Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel and Shri Jadhav Patraprao Ganpatrao, who joined in releasing IEC materials including a logo, posters, radio spots, and audio visuals for the campaign. Additionally, oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc tablets were distributed to children on the occasion.
The STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024 aims for zero child deaths due to diarrhoea, a preventable and treatable condition that still claims numerous young lives each year. Enhancing the previous strategy, which involved a two-week campaign, the new approach extends to a two-month initiative with pre-positioning of ORS and zinc co-packs for children under five. The campaign also includes extensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) efforts across multiple sectors such as health, water and sanitation, education, and rural development.
Keynote Address
Shri J P Nadda highlighted the historical context and significance of the campaign. “There is a unique relationship between Mission Indradhanush, the Rotavirus vaccine, and this STOP Diarrhoea Campaign as all were amongst the first initiatives launched during my earlier tenure as the Health Minister,” he stated. He noted that the introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine in 2014, along with initiatives like the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and Ayushman Arogya Mandir network, has significantly contributed to reducing childhood mortality due to diarrhoea.
Emphasizing the importance of sensitizing health workers and enhancing capacity-building efforts, Shri Nadda encouraged states to increase awareness and preparedness. “If our healthcare workers could reach the remotest corners of the country and administer 220 crore doses of COVID vaccines, I am sure they can create the same robust delivery mechanism during the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign,” he added.
Collaborations and Efforts
Union Minister Shri Jadhav Patraprao stressed the importance of preventive measures and cleanliness, urging officials to set diarrhoea prevention targets and focus on the provision of ORS and zinc tablets. Smt. Anupriya Patel called for a reinvigorated effort to combat childhood diarrhoea, urging state representatives to enhance awareness to reach the goal of zero childhood deaths due to diarrhoea.
Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra and Director General of Health Services Dr Atul Goel also spoke on the occasion, underscoring the preventable nature of diarrhoea and the comprehensive efforts required to tackle it.
Campaign Phases and Focus Areas
The campaign will unfold in two phases: the Preparatory Phase from 14th to 30th June 2024 and the Campaign Phase from 1st July to 31st August 2024. Key activities include the distribution of ORS and zinc co-packages by ASHA workers, setting up ORS-Zinc corners at health facilities and Anganwadi centers, and intensifying advocacy and awareness efforts.
Focus areas of the campaign include:
- Strengthening Health Infrastructure: Ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies (ORS, Zinc), particularly in rural areas.
- Improving Access to Clean Water and Sanitation: Implementing rigorous quality control measures and sustainable practices for safe drinking water and better sanitation.
- Enhancing Nutritional Programs: Addressing malnutrition through improved nutritional initiatives.
- Promoting Hygiene Education: Equipping schools with necessary facilities and fostering healthy habits among children.
Multi-Sectoral Approach
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is collaborating with various line ministries such as Drinking Water and Sanitation, Women and Child Development, School Education, Rural Development, and Urban Development. This multi-sectoral approach ensures a comprehensive and impactful program, aiming to reduce child mortality and improve overall public health.
Conclusion
Senior officials from states and representatives from development partners like UNICEF, USAID, BMGF, NIPI, Nutrition International, John Snow India, and WHO participated in the event, sharing feedback and best practices. The National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024 represents a renewed commitment to safeguarding the health and future of India’s children, working towards a vision where no child succumbs to preventable diseases like diarrhoea.
