The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Pilot project to control diarrhoea launched in Krishnagiri district

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Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Pilot project to control diarrhoea launched in Krishnagiri district

S. Prasad

Children having symptoms for less than 14 days will be treated with ORS

— PHOTO: N. BASHKARAN

Honour: Collector Santhosh Babu presenting gold medal to a headmistress for sanitation promotion in Krishangiri on Monday.

Krishnagiri: UNICEF, Department of Public Health and Rural Development on Monday launched a pilot programme to distribute zinc tablets to control diarrhoeal disease among children in Krishnagiri district.

Inaugurating the programme at the Kaveripattinam Girls Higher Secondary School, Collector Santhosh Babu said that children having symptoms for less than 14 days duration would be treated with Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) solution and zinc tablets for four hours.

Infants above two months would be covered under the programme.

However, children with persistent diarrhoea for more than 14 days would be referred to hospitals for medical care, he said.

Dr. Jayanthi, Assistant Project Officer, Health and Nutrition, said that zinc is a micronutrient and helped in cellular growth and function of the immune system. It prevents childhood mortality and morbidity and acts as a tonic after recovery from diarrhoea. Zinc will also benefit other associated illness like pneumonia and septicemia and reduces misuse of antibiotics, which might lead to antibiotic resistance.

According to UNICEF coordinator, P. Ganesamoorthi, Kaveripattinam block is all set to be fully sanitised by April-end.

About 1 lakh toilets have been constructed in Krishnagiri district under the Total Sanitation Campaign. Panchayat raj institutions and village volunteer force and TSC coordinators and NGOs played an active role in achieving this feat.

A majority of schools in the district have kick started a campaign to achieve hundred per cent construction and usage of toilets in surrounding hamlets.

UNICEF also distributed gold medals to headmasters M.V. Murali, Srihari, Mohan Vijaya and field workers of CFVP, Jayachithra, Suguna, Sivakumar, Muruganandam, Daisy, Ilango and Govindammal for contribution towards sanitation promotion activities. Deputy Director, Health Ganesan, Joint Director Medicals Nandagopalsamy and Assistant Director Panchayats, Ramakrishnan were present.

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