Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi Takes Action Against Waterborne Diseases Ahead of Dusshera
Health Protocols Reinforced in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: On Saturday, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi instructed health officials to sustain the existing protocols in regions vulnerable to waterborne diseases until the Dusshera festival, despite a decline in diarrhoea cases across six districts.
Currently, the state has reported 13 fatalities linked to waterborne illnesses, with 3,892 individuals affected by diarrhoea and cholera in the districts of Jajpur, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar.
During a review meeting regarding the diarrhoea outbreak, the Chief Minister noted that 3,543 patients have successfully recovered, while 254 remain under medical care, according to an official statement.
The report indicated that the situation is stabilizing, with a significant drop in new infections across the affected districts.
Majhi urged officials to remain vigilant and not to underestimate the improvements, directing the health department to ensure seamless coordination of medical services from primary health centres to medical colleges.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining preventive measures in areas at risk of outbreaks until the Dusshera celebrations.
The Chief Minister was briefed that efforts to purify drinking water are ongoing in all educational institutions, and he has mandated that these institutions adhere to health guidelines to prevent illness among students.
Additionally, he called for inspections of food sold in street vendors' stalls and urged for purification of these areas, along with testing drinking water sources in rural communities.
Majhi was informed that the state government has initiated a robust public awareness campaign through Information-Education-Communication (IEC) strategies statewide.
The Mission Shakti department is actively promoting awareness about diarrhoea prevention through women’s self-help groups (SHGs), with Asha workers and Anganwadi staff playing key roles in disseminating health messages to families.