Asian Conference on Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD)

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, addressed the 16th Asian Conference on Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD) at Kolkata today. 

• The theme of the ASCODD was “Prevention and control of cholera, typhoid and other enteric diseases in low and middle-income countries through community participation: beyond the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic”.
• Initiatives under Digital India initiative such as Online Registration System, eHospital for hospital management, eSanjeevani telemedicine app so that people could get treatment from the comfort of their homes.
• The conference program focuses on the latest issues in 

• Enteric infections, 
• Nutrition, 
• Policy, and Practice including roadmap to end Cholera by 2030,
• Cholera vaccine development and rapid diagnostics, 
• Contemporary perspectives of antimicrobial resistance of enteric bacteria: 
• New Initiatives and challenges, enteric bacterial infections, including Shigella spp, epidemiology, burden, and vaccines against other viral infections, including Hepatitis, lessons learned about diarrhoea research during the COVID pandemic.

Diarrhoea

• Diarrhoea is a condition where an individual experiences a high frequency of loose and watery stools. 
• Usually, it is not a life-threatening disease and the duration of its symptoms usually varies as there are many causal factors.

Caused by

• A Variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms.
• Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person to person as a result of poor hygiene.
• Associated with other symptoms: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss.
• Measures to treat diarrhoea:
• Rehydration with oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution
• Rehydration may require intravenous fluids in case of severe dehydration or shock.
• Zinc supplements
• Nutrient-rich foods.

Achievements of India

• India successfully ran a free vaccination program with record break vaccination of more than 219 crores.
• India provided vaccinations to other nations so that it can win over the pandemic together. Effective use of safe and affordable vaccines,
• Various Health initiatives under Digital India initiative:

• Online Registration System,
• eHospital for hospital management,
• eSanjeevani telemedicine app