Summary

Program goals

The goal of the program is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with diarrheal disease particularly in children under five years of age from low-income rural settings. 

Key program components

The kit is currently subsidized to ensure affordability to the vast majority of people and includes a low-literacy insert, targeted to mothers of children under the age of five to treat dehydration and diarrhea.

PSI/Cambodia is using multiple communication methods, including a TV and radio commercial, mobile video shows, a karaoke song VCD, and point of sales materials to increase knowledge of the correct treatment of diarrhea and to create demand for Orasel KIT. PSI/Cambodia’s communications underscore the importance of safe drinking water, hand washing, continued feeding practices, and other elements of proper diarrhea management with ORT.

To reach health providers, PSI/Cambodia developed a training curriculum based on the latest IMCI and WHO guidelines in close collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Cambodian National Mother to Child Health Center. A training of trainers program was launched with NGO partners who then trained health center staff, village shop owners and village health support groups. The program also trained private healthcare providers including members of PSI’s Sun Quality Health Network clinics, pharmacists and drug store owners on Orasel KIT and diarrhea management.

Future goals include expanding collaboration with the Cambodian Pediatric Association to increase awareness of the new guidelines of diarrhea treatmnet among children under the age of 5. PSI/Cambodia will soon launch new intervention to battle pneumonia, providing the health intervention at registered pharmacies along with behaviour change communication for providers and consumers.