RMRC plans two centres to fight diarrhoea

Times of India, Feb 7, 2011
Bhubaneswar: The Regional Medical Research Centre is planning to open two outreach centres at Bhawanipatna and Rayagada to prevent diarrhoeal diseases in the KBK region. The two centres will be set up in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the state government, RMRC director S K Kar said.


At least 183 people died of cholera in the KBK region in 2010 and outbreaks have been reported many times before. The state government is keen to monitor diarrhoeal diseases in the region so that these can be prevented, Kar said. Besides, the centres will study and find out ways to wipe out cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases from the region.

The centres in coordination with the district administrations will also work on nutrition of tribals, venereal diseases, sexually transmitted infections and other emerging public health issues, Kar said.

While the government will provide office space, the ICMR and the state will be funding it on a project to project basis. The outreach centres will be functional for three to five years. The RMRC will also vaccinate the KBK population against cholera at the centre but this depends upon funding from the state, Kar said.

At present, RMRC is mapping population in Satyabadi block of Puri district to vaccinate them against cholera on a pilot basis. The double dose oral cholera vaccine (OCV) "Shanchol" guarantees 70 per cent protection against the diarrhoeal disease for two years. tnn