The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, today launched the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024. The event was attended by Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, and Shri Jadhav Patraprao Ganpatrao. The launch included the unveiling of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials such as logos, posters, radio spots, and audiovisuals, and the distribution of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc tablets to children.

Campaign Objectives and Strategy
The primary goal of the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign is to achieve zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea. The new strategy extends the campaign duration to two months, compared to the previous two-week campaign. It includes the pre-positioning of two ORS packets and zinc tablets as a co-packaging for children under five. The campaign emphasizes extensive IEC activities and cross-sector collaboration involving health, water and sanitation, education, and rural development sectors.

Ministerial Statements
Shri J P Nadda highlighted the significant progress made through various government initiatives, such as the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and the expansion of the Ayushman Arogya Mandir network, in reducing childhood mortality due to diarrhoea. He stressed the importance of sensitizing health workers and enhancing capacity-building efforts to strengthen diarrhoea management in India. Nadda expressed confidence in the ability of healthcare workers to deliver robust services during the campaign, drawing parallels with the successful COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Shri Jadhav Prataprao emphasized the need for preventive measures against diarrhoea, urging officials to focus on cleanliness and set specific diarrhoea prevention targets. Smt. Anupriya Patel called for renewed efforts and increased awareness to achieve the goal of zero childhood deaths due to diarrhoea, highlighting the preventable and curable nature of the disease.

Campaign Implementation
The STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024 will be implemented in two phases: a Preparatory Phase from June 14 to June 30, and a Campaign Phase from July 1 to August 31. Key activities include the distribution of ORS and Zinc co-packages by ASHA workers to households with children under five, the establishment of ORS-Zinc corners at health facilities and Anganwadi centers, and intensified advocacy and awareness efforts.

Focus Areas
The campaign focuses on strengthening health infrastructure, improving access to clean water and sanitation, enhancing nutritional programs, and promoting hygiene education. These efforts aim to create a comprehensive approach to managing and preventing diarrhoea, thereby reducing child mortality and improving overall public health.

Multi-Sectoral Collaboration
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is collaborating with various line ministries, including Drinking Water and Sanitation, Women and Child Development, School Education, Rural Development, and Urban Development. This multi-sectoral approach ensures better convergence and effective implementation of the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign.

Senior officials from states, along with representatives from development partners such as UNICEF, USAID, BMGF, NIPI, Nutrition International, John Snow India, and WHO, participated in the event. They shared their thoughts, feedback, and best practices, reinforcing the commitment to the campaign’s success and the overarching goal of eliminating childhood deaths due to diarrhoea in India.

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