Vaccination drive, oral rehydration corners in Aila-affected areas

In a bid to curb the rising spate of water-borne diseases in the Aila-affected areas, the North and South 24 Parganas district administration has set up oral rehydration corners along with a vaccination drive. The drive is being implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with partner NGOs and Kolkata Medical College.

''Twelve such corners have been set up in the districts where the people are being taught how to use bleaching solution, halogen tablets and ORS. They are also being taught about the importance of cleaning one's hands, purifying water and using ORS and home-based fluids to rehydrate patients,'' UNICEF sources said. A joint Vitamin A and measles vaccination drive has also been initiated to prevent the outbreak of disease after Aila, the sources added.

Meanwhile, a special drive on measles and Vitamin A has been initiated for six months for five-year-old children in six Aila-affected blocks of Gosaba, Basanti, Patharpratima, Kultali of South 24 Parganas and Sandeskhali-I and Hingalgunj of North 24 Parganas. The drive started on July 16 and would continue for 7-14 days in each block depending on the number of children.