Aalo, July 4: The Stop Diarrhoea Campaign (SDC) was launched at Bal Bharati School in Aalo on Friday, aiming to reinforce efforts towards reducing diarrhoeal diseases among children in West Siang district.
The programme was inaugurated by West Siang zilla parishad chairperson Tumpe Ete, who recalled the high prevalence of diarrhoea among children in the past. He noted that the disease had once been a leading cause of child mortality, but improvements in healthcare services and awareness campaigns have led to a significant decline.
Ete called for continued community engagement to eliminate preventable child deaths.
District reproductive and child health officer Tomar Kamki provided an overview of the SDC, outlining its focus on children under five. The campaign adopts a multi-sectoral strategy encompassing seven components: promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, vitamin A supplementation, handwashing with soap, access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation, use of zinc and ORS during diarrhoeal episodes, complete immunisation including rotavirus vaccine, and community awareness.
West Siang district medical officer Dr Linya Lollen stressed the need for coordination among departments. She acknowledged the support of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), education department, and local panchayati raj institutions and urged their continued collaboration to ensure the campaign reaches all households, schools, and villages in the district.
Participants at the event collectively pledged to work towards making West Siang a diarrhoea-free and child-friendly district.
