Kids to get Zinc supplement to fight diarrhoeal diseases

Kathmandu, May 14:

The Integrated Management on Childhood Illness (IMCI) unit of Child Health Division has started the national programme of providing Zinc supplement from Rautahat district from this week.

The programme will be launched in Parbat district within the next two weeks. The introduction of Zinc Sulphate tablets along with Oral Rehydrating Solution (ORS) as a programme to diarrhoeal patients is the “first of its kind in the SAARC region.”

According to the programme, the Zinc Sulphate tablets are given to all the children for a dose of 10 days to 30 days depending on the case. The USAID and Plan International have jointly funded the programme. “The death caused by severe dehydration will be checked by the zinc supplement provided by Zinc Sulphate,” said Dr Sun Lal Thapa, programme manager at IMCI. “The zinc supplement controls the loose motion as well.”

Dr Yasovardan Pradhan, director at Child Health Division (CHD) said that CHD is planning to expand the programme to seven more districts next year.