A tiny village, settling dusk, children returning to their homes after playing as the street lights are switched on, a kitchen where you can smell the aroma of freshly cooked meals, the smell of comfort and the regular life.
In this particular kitchen, there resides a small packet, tucked neatly between the tea leaves and the sugar box, almost unnoticed until the need arises.
A month earlier, during her routine household visit, the village ASHA worker had placed it in Siya’s hand “Didi, ghar pe toh sab swasth hi hain,” Siya had smiled politely.
The ASHA worker smiled back,“Isse yahi baat bani rahegi.” The sachet found its place on the kitchen shelf, and life carried on.
Then came July, Siya’s five year old son Sonu came back early in the evening, had two episode of loose stools. His grandfather blamed the roadside eatery, his father blamed the heat and mother hoped that this would settle by next morning
The clock struck midnight, the tension was rising, the number of loose stools episodes had become five. Sonu who was always a talkative boy had dry lips, eyes sunken, barely speaking.
Siya was feeling helpless, she lit the kitchen light to fetch some water, where her eyes fell upon the packet which almost forgotten.
Instantly, she remembered the instructions, one litre of water, boiled then cooled, poured an entire sachet, no addition nor subtraction, stirring away until the worrisome thoughts and ORS both dissolved.
Then began the struggle, first spoon her son turned away his face, the second sip the mouth did not open widely, the third one was accepted with little to no resistance.
This action was repeated until Sonu started appearing more alert and demanded for water. As the sun rose, the tension levels started to drop down.
Sonu accepted a biscuit finally and Siya accepted the fact that ASHA didi was correct about ORS.
That morning, they visited the Primary Health Centre. After examining Sonu, the medical officer smiled reassuringly “You did the right thing by starting ORS early, it prevented him from becoming severely dehydrated.”
These stories barely make it to the headlines, because it is the greatest win of preventive medicine. The story of a child saved from the consequences of dehydration, a mother who decided to stay vigilant, an ASHA worker who fulfilled her duty well.
For years, ORS has served as one of the most successful interventions in the field of public health. It’s greatest challenge was never about effectiveness, it was always about the right timing.
ORS is not a substitute for medical care, it definitely is something that keeps a child stable enough to reach it.
This World ORS Day, let every home keep one simple promise, don’t wait for dehydration to begin rehydration.
