BHUBANESWAR: Even as Odisha battles with high incidence of diarrhoea among children, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) is all set to launch an extensive programme on ‘Management and prevention of childhood diarrhoea’ to combat the menace in the State. The programme would be launched in five districts of Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Kandhamal in association with Unicef and NRHM. These five districts, which are predominantly tribal, have been witnessing frequent outbreaks of cholera over the recent years.

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is making significant strides in curbing children’s mortality with the under-five mortality rate in the State declining at faster rate than the national average for the first time in 2010. Under-5 mortality has declined by six points from 84 in 2009 to 78 in 2010 surpassing the national average of five points from 64 in 2009 to 59 in 2012. The State, in fact, has recorded the second highest drop in Under-5 mortality after Madhya Pradesh during the year, the latest Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2011 report has revealed.

BHUBANESWAR: With the dust of panchayat polls slowly settling down, the Government on Thursday announced the much-awaited drought relief for the affected. According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister SN Patro, 13,032 villages of 133 blocks and 156 wards of 34 urban local bodies in 19 districts are drought-hit. Seven districts __ Balangir, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh (only one in coastal belt) and Rayagada __ are fully affected.

NABARANGPUR: Agricultural activities have come to a halt in Nabarangpur district, where 90 per cent of the population depends on farming, due to erratic rainfall. In the absence of permanent irrigation facilities, farmers here mostly depend on rains for agricultural activities.

 In the last two months, this agrarian district has witnessed erratic and uneven rainfall as a result of which, paddy saplings are on the verge of being damaged.

A 24-hour state-wide shutdown called by Maoists against "forcible land acquisition" for South Korean steel major Posco's project and other issues hit normal life in southern parts of Orissa Thursday, police said.

"Government buses are not plying in the Maoist-affected districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabrangpur," a police official told IANS.

BHUBANESWAR: After initial refusal to sanction funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to the six districts under CBI scanner, the Centre on Monday released Rs 170 crore for the wage employment programme.

BHUBANESWAR: IT is one area where extremely backward Nabarangpur district has stolen a march on advanced districts in coastal belt. District

PURI/NABARANGPUR: The scourge of diarrhoea is back claiming three persons each in coastal Puri and predominantly tribal Nabarangpur districts. Many more are fighting for lives.
Three persons died today and five were battling for lives in Puri infectious diseases hospital (IDH) after bouts of diarrhoea, while another 55 are undergoing treatment there.

Contaminated water sources and the virtual absence of health care claim dozens of lives in the State, now in the grip of cholera.
COME monsoon and the backward regions of Orissa are in the grip of water-borne diseases. This year too has been no different. According to official figures, 150 people had died of cholera and diarrhoea in the State as on September 15.

Contaminated water sources and the virtual absence of health care claim dozens of lives in the State, now in the grip of cholera.

COME monsoon and the backward regions of Orissa are in the grip of water-borne diseases. This year too has been no different. According to official figures, 150 people had died of cholera and diarrhoea in the State as on September 15.