'Health Run' against diarrhoeal deaths on Saturday

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Millions of Indians will join a 32-city 'Health Run' on Saturday to raise awareness about large-scale childhood deaths from diarrhoea.

Named 'Udaan', it will be the country's largest-ever run in support of the fight against diarrhoeal deaths, said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is organising the run to mark the National ORS Day.

National ORS Day is observed every year on July 29 to promote the correct use of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS).

The run will take place in cities spread across Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the US Embassy said.

The run is an initiative under the 'Saathi Bachpan Ke' (Partners for Childhood) programme to reduce childhood fatalities from diarrhoea.

NCC cadets, NGOs, military and police establishments, sports academies, doctors, chemists and students will participate in the run, the embassy said.

''India has extremely high infant and child mortality rate.

Diarrhoea is one of the biggest causes of death in children in India. It is our vision to bring about a progressive change in the health status of children in India,'' said Dr Robert Clay, Director, Office of Population, Health and Nutrition of USAID.

Over 50,000 children die in India every year due to dehydration caused by diarrhoea, which is a major cause of malnutrition in children.

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