ORSL Makers Launch Campaign To Fight Diarrhoea In UP, Bihar

Kenvue, the makers of ORSL, in collaboration with Population Services International India (PSI India), has launched a major public health initiative, “Diarrhoea Se Darr Nahi”, aimed at reducing diarrhoea-related child mortality in India.

Over the next two years, the initiative will reach five million children across ten districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, supporting the government’s "Stop Diarrhoea Campaign", which aims for zero child deaths due to diarrhoea.

The program will focus on preventive and curative measures for diarrhoea management, particularly for children under five years old. Kenvue and PSI India will collaborate with state health authorities, ASHA workers, and caregivers to ensure early detection, awareness, and treatment using Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and Zinc therapy.

Despite WHO’s endorsement of ORS as the gold standard for diarrhoea treatment, National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) data reveals that 50 per cent of children under five in Uttar Pradesh did not receive ORS when suffering from diarrhoea. This underscores the urgent need for enhanced awareness, access, and capability building among healthcare providers and communities.

The initiative will be implemented in Badaun, Mathura, Unnao, Moradabad, Gonda, Shrawasti, and Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, and Supaul, Darbhanga, and Purnia in Bihar.

Manish Anandani, Managing Director, India, Kenvue, emphasized the company’s commitment, stating, “With the launch of ready-to-drink ORS WHO-approved formula, we aim to complement government efforts and improve diarrhoea management in vulnerable communities.”

This initiative marks a critical step in improving child health outcomes, strengthening diarrhoea management, and ensuring greater ORS coverage in high-risk districts.