The study included 39 men
and women belonging to five
tribes - Tea-tribe (which has a
Proto-Australoid origin), Bodo,
Karbi, Tai-Phake and Tai-Aiton
tribes of Mongoloid origin. All
study participants were of rural
background, practiced farming
and were non vegetarian. Rice is
their staple food along with cereals,
vegetables and tubers. The study
builds on earlier work done at
the institute which had shown a
similarity in gut microbe profiles
of the Tea-tribe and Tai-Phake and
between Tai-Aiton, Bodo and Karbi
tribes.
GOVT LAUNCHES INTENSIFIED
DIARRHOEA CONTROL
FORTNIGHT
The Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare has launched
the Intensified Diarrhea Control
Fortnight (IDCF) in order to
intensify efforts to reduce child
deaths due to diarrhoea. The
Ministry has made it a national
priority to bring health outcomes
among children to a level equitable
with the rest of the world.
Through this initiative, the
Ministry will mobilize health
personnel, State Governments
and other stakeholders to
prioritize investment in control
of diarrhea, one of the most
common childhood illnesses.
It aims to create mass awareness
about the most effective and low-
cost diarrhoea treatment— a
combination of Oral Rehydration
Salt (ORS) solution and Zinc
tablets.
They have found that the type of gut
bacteria found among people vary
with their ethnicity.
During the fortnight, intensified
community awareness campaigns
on hygiene and promotion of ORS
and Zinc therapy will be conducted
at state, district and village levels.
Nearly 12 crore under 5-children
will be covered during the program
across the country.
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