AALO, Jul 5: The Stop Diarrhoea Campaign (SDC) was launched at Bal Bharati School in Aalo on Friday with the objective of strengthening child health and hygiene practices across West Siang district.
The programme was inaugurated by zilla parishad chairperson Tumpe Ete, who commended the health department’s sustained efforts in reducing the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases over the years. He said diarrhoea had been one of the leading causes of child mortality 15–20 years ago, but improvements in healthcare infrastructure and community awareness have led to a notable decline in such cases. He called for continued engagement to eliminate preventable child deaths.
District reproductive and child health officer Tomar Kamki presented an overview of the campaign, highlighting its focus on children under five. He said the campaign employs a multi-sectoral approach, guided by a seven-point strategy comprising exclusive breastfeeding, Vitamin A supplementation, handwashing with soap, safe drinking water and improved sanitation, use of zinc and oral rehydration salts (ORS) during diarrhoeal episodes, full immunisation including rotavirus vaccination, and sustained community education.
District medical officer Linya Lollen stressed the importance of inter-departmental collaboration and expressed appreciation to the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), education department, and panchayati raj institutions for their support. She encouraged continued cooperation to extend the campaign to all households, schools, and villages.
The event concluded with a collective pledge by participants to make West Siang a diarrhoea-free and child-friendly district.
