Dr. Pinky Jovel : ORS Corners, Signature Campaign, and Awareness Vehicle Flagged Off in Lucknow under ‘Stop Diarrhea Campaign’
Lucknow – Under the ongoing ‘Stop Diarrhea Campaign’, aimed at spreading awareness about diarrhea prevention and treatment, a promotional awareness van was flagged off from the Urban Community Health Center, Indira Nagar, Lucknow, by Dr. Pinky Jovel, Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Uttar Pradesh.
The awareness vehicle, equipped with informative posters, banners, and audio-visual material, will tour different parts of the city to educate communities about the causes, symptoms, and prevention of diarrhea. On this occasion, ORS-Zinc Corners and a signature campaign were also launched by Dr. Jovel, who urged public participation and environmental responsibility by planting a sapling at the event.
“Even today, diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of death among children under the age of five. The good news is that diarrhea is entirely preventable and treatable. There’s no need to fear it—but we must remain vigilant,” said Dr. Jovel.
She advised that if a child passes loose stools three or more times a day, it should be recognized as diarrhea, and the child must be immediately given an ORS solution to prevent dehydration and salt loss. Simultaneously, medical advice from the nearest health center should be sought.
Zinc tablets, administered as per age-specific dosage and duration, help reduce the duration of diarrhea and also boost the child’s immunity, she added. Mothers were advised to continue breastfeeding during diarrhea, as breast milk provides both nutrition and strength to infants.
Public Hygiene Critical During Monsoons
Chief Medical Officer Dr. N.B. Singh highlighted the heightened risk of diarrhea during monsoon due to contaminated water, unclean hands, improper disposal of child feces, and open defecation. He emphasized the importance of washing hands thoroughly with soap and water—especially after defecation, cleaning a child’s stool, and before preparing or serving food.
Massive Statewide Campaign Underway
Dr. Milind Vardhan, General Manager of the Child Health Program, NHM Uttar Pradesh, said the Stop Diarrhea Campaign is being held from June 16 to July 31, with the objective of promoting the use of ORS and Zinc while raising public awareness. Various activities are being organized across districts, with active participation from voluntary organizations supporting the health department.
“Our goal is to reduce child mortality through timely intervention and to empower communities with accurate health knowledge,” Dr. Vardhan said.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The event was attended by Additional Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Sharda Chaudhary, District Health Education and Information Officer Yogesh Raghuvanshi, CHC Indiranagar Superintendent Dr. Mayank Jalote, and representatives from PSI India including Samrendra Behera, Amit Kumar, Meenakshi Dixit, Anil Dwivedi, Praveen Dixit, and Manoj Kumar, among others.
The campaign continues to gain momentum across Uttar Pradesh as health officials aim to reduce preventable child deaths and promote a healthier, aware society.
