STOP Diarrhoea Campaign

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign to tackle the persistent issue of childhood diarrhoea and strive for zero child deaths.

The long-standing Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) has been rebranded as the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign. This initiative, which began in 2014, focuses on enhancing the Prevent, Protect, and Treat (PPT) strategy and increasing the use of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Zinc.

Aim

The goal behind the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign is to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea.

Duration

The programme involves a 2-month long campaign with pre-positioning of 2 ORS packets and zinc as a co-packaging to under-5 children. It will also involve extensive IEC through different platforms and collaboration across multiple sectors, including health, water and sanitation, education, and rural development.

The existing diarrhoea strategy entailed a 2-week campaign with pre-positioning of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) to under-5 children and limited IEC. 

Implementation 

The campaign's 2024 slogan, “Diarrhoea ki Roktham, Safai aur ORS se rakhen apna dhyaan” ("डायरिया की रोकथाम, सफाई और ओ आर एस से रखें अपना ध्यान"), highlights the significance of prevention, cleanliness, and appropriate treatment.

The STOP Diarrhoea Campaign will be implemented in two phases:

• Preparatory Phase from 14th to 30th June 2024, and 
• Campaign Phase from 1st July to 31st August 2024.

Key activities during this period include the distribution of ORS and Zinc co-packages by ASHA workers to households with children under five, setting up ORS-Zinc corners at health facilities and Anganwadi centers, and intensifying advocacy and awareness efforts for effective diarrhoea management. Additionally, the campaign will strengthen service provision for diarrhoea case management to ensure comprehensive care and prevention.

Focus Areas of the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign

• Strengthening Health Infrastructure: Ensuring the proper maintenance and use of health facilities and 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 to provide safe drinking water and better sanitation.
• Enhancing Nutritional Programs: Addressing malnutrition, a major contributor to diarrhoeal diseases, through improved nutritional initiatives.
• Promoting Hygiene Education: Equipping schools with necessary facilities and fostering healthy habits among children through comprehensive hygiene education programs.

These focus areas aim to create a holistic approach to managing and preventing diarrhoea, ultimately reducing child mortality and improving overall public health.

Collaborators 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is working closely 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 better convergence and implementation of the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign, aiming for a comprehensive and impactful program to reduce child mortality and improve public health.

Source : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare