Rally to Mark ORS Week

Patna: July 29, 2008

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in Patna on Tuesday, to mark the World ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) Week, took out a rally from Kargil Chowk to the JP Roundabout near Gandhi Maidan. A number of prominent pediatricians and other health professionals from Bihar and other states took part in the awareness march.

Health Minister Nand Kishore Yadav, who flagged off the rally, said the march was intended to promote awareness about diarrhea among children and how to prevent it or minimize its effects.

"Thousands of children die of diarrhea each year in India. This is one medical condition that can be successfully eradicated if timely, proper medicine is applied," Yadav said adding the ORS should be made available at all drug stores and clinics of all sizes.

The rally was also attended by IAP national vice president Dr. Utpalkant Singh, state president Dr. S. B. P. Sinha, Secretary Dr. B. P. Jaiswal, Dr. A. K. Jaiswal, Dr. Arun Kumar Thakur, Dr. S. P. Srivastava and other doctors.

Earlier, a seminar on ORS was organized by the IAP to highlight the importance of ORS.

"The solution is very simple to make and contains water and salt but the proper ratio of these two ingredients are of utmost importance and must be made very carefully only by experts," said Dr. J. P. N. Agrawal.

"If properly made and the child suffering from diarrhea is fed five teaspoon every five minutes, the sickness could easily be cured," he said.