The Gurugram Health Department on Tuesday launched the annual ‘Stop Diarrhea’ campaign, a six-week campaign aimed at improving awareness, early treatment and prevention of diarrheal diseases among children under five years of age.
The campaign, which will run from June 16 to July 31, is being conducted under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Health Mission.
Health officials said the focus will be on promoting the use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc supplements, along with hygiene and sanitation practices that help prevent the spread of the disease.
As part of the campaign, ORS packets and zinc tablets will be distributed to families with young children, while dedicated ORS corners will be set up at government health facilities, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Anganwadi centres. Frontline health workers, including ASHAs and ANMs, will conduct demonstrations on preparing ORS and identifying signs of dehydration.
Officials said special awareness activities will be carried out in urban slums, migrant settlements, construction sites and other vulnerable communities, where the risk of water and sanitation-related diseases is often higher.
The campaign was preceded by an awareness workshop at the Sector 31 dispensary, where healthcare workers were trained on diarrhea management, hand washing practices and safe water storage.
“Diarrhea remains a significant contributor to deaths in children under five years of age, and timely use of ORS and zinc, coupled with proper hygiene and sanitation practices, can prevent almost all diarrhoea-related deaths,” said Dr Lukveer Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Gurugram.
According to health department officials, Gurugram did not report any confirmed deaths of children due to diarrhea in the previous year. However, diarrheal diseases remain a major public health concern, especially during the monsoon season, when cases typically rise due to contamination of food and drinking water.
