Reducing incidence of childhood diarrhoea

Reducing deaths from childhood diarrhoea

Description

Reducing the incidence of childhood diarrhoea involves ensuring access to safe drinking water, promoting proper sanitation and hygiene practices, and encouraging exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding. The strategy includes widespread use of oral rehydration solutions, zinc supplementation, and timely medical care. These actions directly address the primary causes and transmission routes of diarrhoeal diseases, aiming to decrease morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in vulnerable and resource-limited communities.

Implementation

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. The aim is to reduce the incidence of childhood diarrhoea in developing countries by at least 25 to 50% by the year 2000.