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Director’s
Note
About 3.2 million children below 5 years
of age die annually from acute diarrhoeal diseases worldwide. In India,
0.6 to 0.7 million children die from the same disease. Oral rehydration
therapy has been successfully used for the treatment and prevention
of dehydration from acute diarrhoea. But its implementation in India
is still not satisfactory. Mothers, health workers and practitioners
should be oriented and educated to prescribe oral rehydration therapy
more frequently to save more lives in a cost effective manner. Use of
antidiarrhoeal drugs, some of which are not only ineffective but harmful,
must be avoided. Non-vaccine intervention measures for the treatment
and control of diarrhoeal diseases like hand-washing practices, zinc
supplementation are being considered seriously for incorporation in
an effective manner in national diarrhoeal diseases control programme.
Attempts must be made to develop suitable cost effective vaccines against
at least five enteric infections, namely, Vibrio cholerae O1, Vibrio
cholerae O139, Rotavirus, enterotoxigenic E.coli and Shigella dysenteriae
type 1. General improvement in sanitation, personal hygiene, safe water
supply and disposal of human excreta needs to be carefully taken up
at the national level. Immunization against measles should be given
more coverage. Malnutrition must be tackled properly.
The rapid progress of HIV infection in India is a matter of great concern
and concerted, collaborative efforts, both at a national and international
level, are required for finding out a effective HIV vaccine for this
killer disease. Till such vaccine is available, health education, appropriate
use of condoms, awarness and empowerment of women and control of STD
are of paramount importance.
The Institute desires to collaborate with
other national and international agencies and scientists at all levels
in its efforts to control the menace of diarrhoeal diseases.
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