Bold Step Towards Saving Young Lives: Punjab Launches Statewide Campaign Against Childhood Diarrhoea
Chandigarh, July 16 – In a determined move to protect the health of children under five, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has formally launched the “STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2025” (ਦਸਤ ਰੋਕੋ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ 2025). The initiative, part of a broader public health strategy, aims to combat diarrhoeal disease — one of the leading causes of childhood mortality globally.
“ਸੂਬੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਛੋਟੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਿਹਤ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡੀ ਤਰਜੀਹ ਹੈ। ਦਸਤ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਇਹ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ ਇੱਕ ਢੰਗਵੀਂ ਕਦਮਬੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਉੱਤੇ ਕੇਂਦਰਿਤ ਹੈ,” said Dr. Balbir Singh during the campaign’s state-level launch event.
The campaign aligns with the World Health Organization’s data, which estimates over 446,000 annual deaths of children under five due to diarrhoea-related complications. By emphasizing ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and zinc tablets, the campaign supports WHO-backed evidence-based treatment methods.
A Scientifically Backed Approach
The Punjab government’s strategy builds upon the National Health Mission’s two-month plan, which includes the door-to-door distribution of ORS packets and zinc tablets to families with young children. This approach is backed by a 2016 study published in The Lancet, which demonstrated that the combined use of ORS and zinc reduces diarrhoea-related child mortality by 23%.
Health workers across Punjab will be mobilized for community awareness, distribution of treatment kits, and educational drives in both urban and rural areas, ensuring families are equipped to respond early to symptoms.
Political Will Meets Public Health
Dr. Balbir Singh, who took charge as Punjab’s Health Minister in 2023 following the Aam Aadmi Party’s sweeping 2022 state election victory, represents a new wave of leadership. A qualified doctor himself and former caretaker Convener of AAP Punjab, Dr. Singh has maintained a clear focus on healthcare reform and grassroots outreach rather than engaging in political controversy.
Under his leadership, Punjab has witnessed increased focus on preventive healthcare, community-based interventions, and strengthening primary health systems — a shift from politically reactive to data-driven governance.
Looking Ahead
The “STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2025” is expected to run intensively across July and August, with the goal of not only reducing diarrhoea cases but building long-term community awareness around hygiene, nutrition, and child health.
As Punjab continues to expand its health infrastructure, initiatives like these signals a strong commitment to safeguarding the well-being of its youngest citizens through scientifically grounded, people-first governance.