Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 July 2025
In a significant step towards improving child health and reducing under-five mortality, the Health Department of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has launched the Stop Diarrhoea Campaign 2025 across the Union Territory. The campaign, themed “Diarrhoea ki Roktham, Safai aur ORS se rakhen apna dhyaan”, aims to spread awareness, ensure effective prevention, and promote timely treatment of diarrhoeal diseases—one of the leading causes of death among children under five.
Running from 16th July to 31st August 2025, the campaign will focus on community mobilization, training of health workers, and widespread distribution of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and zinc tablets.
The initiative is being implemented through coordinated efforts involving ASHAs, ANMs, Anganwadi Workers, and Community Health Officers (CHOs). These frontline workers will carry out home visits, organize health talks, and conduct awareness drives across both rural and urban areas of the islands.
During a virtual orientation held for field staff, the Director of Health Services emphasized that all diarrhoea-related child deaths are preventable. “Every child’s life is precious. Simple, timely interventions like ORS, safe drinking water, and hand washing can save thousands of lives,” the Director stated. The importance of the “Do ka Dum” strategy—encouraging the use of both ORS and zinc tablets—as a key component of the campaign was emphasized.
Key focus areas of the campaign include strengthening health infrastructure, improving access to clean water and sanitation, enhancing nutrition programs, and promoting hygiene education. Through a holistic and community-based approach, the campaign aims to drastically reduce child mortality rates and improve public health outcomes across the Union Territory.
