Makers of ORSL, a leading oral rehydration salts (ORS) brand based on the World Health Organization (WHO) formula, in partnership with Population Services International India (PSI India), reaffirmed its commitment to raising awareness on prevention and management of childhood diarrhoea through its flagship public health initiative, ‘Diarrhoea Se Darr Nahi’. This initiative is aligned to the company’s Healthy Lives Mission social impact strategy with its focus on healthy people, healthy planet, and healthy products.
To support the government’s ‘Stop Diarrhoea’ Campaign, ‘Diarrhoea Se Darr Nahi’ initiative launched by ORSL along with its NGO partner, PSI India, is targeting 16 high-burden districts across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with an ambition to reach nearly 5 million children under five years of age over two plus years.
Reflecting on the programme’s journey and impact, Prashant Shinde, business unit head – self care, Kenvue India, said, ” Through ‘Diarrhoea Se Darr Nahi’ initiative, we are proud of the impact we have created so far to support the Government’s efforts along with PSI India, to ensure that caregivers not only understand the importance of ORS and zinc but are also equipped to act quickly during incidents of diarrhoea. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting India’s efforts to reduce preventable childhood illness and mortality by building lasting awareness, strengthening community health systems, and improving access to lifesaving interventions where they are needed most.”
As part of World ORS Day celebrations on 29 July, ‘Stop Diarrhoea Awareness Van’ was officially flagged off in Lucknow in presence of senior government officials from Directorate and National Health Mission including Dr A K Singh, joint director, RCH, Dr Ajay Gupta, additional director,, Dr N B Singh, chief medical officer, Lucknow and Dr Milind Vardhan, GM, child health, Dr B N Yadav, ACMO, Lucknow alongside other representatives from the Department of Health and Family Welfare and other health officials.
Mukesh Kumar Sharma, executive director, PSI India, added “We are truly humbled by the recognition from Dr Pinki Jowel (IAS), MD, NHM – UP towards our efforts for the STOP Diarrhoea campaign under our Diarrhoea Se Darr Nahi public health initiative. During implementation, we identified that collaborating with school children, Mahila Arogya Samiti members significantly enhanced and deepened awareness around diarrhoea prevention and management. In the first year, we reached over 2.5 million children under five for diarrhoea care through the caregivers, ASHAs, and other service providers.”
