The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

Social Marketing Company (SMC) has launched SMC Zinc 20mg dispersible tablets as an adjunct therapy to oral saline to prevent and treat diarrhea among U-5 children.

The leading pharmaceutical company Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd is the manufacturing partner of SMC.

Lois Bradshaw, Director, Office of PHN, USAID/Dhaka, and Managing Director of SMC Perveen Rasheed were present at the official launching programme of SMC Zinc on September 24 at SMC Head Office in the city.

Every year globally approximately two million children and in Bangladesh approximately over one lakh children die of diarrhea. World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend the use of Zinc as an adjunct therapy to oral saline to reduce mortality and morbidity caused by diarrhea.

During diarrhea there is an increased loss of water and electrolytes. Oral Saline helps to replace fluids lost during diarrhea. Zinc replaces the lost zinc and boosts immunity; as a result it prevents future episodes of diarrhea.

Over the 3 decades, SMC has spearheaded the effort to improve diarrheal management through expanding the use of oral saline. SMC's ORSaline-N® and ORSaline® Fruity account for approximately 60 per cent of the total Oral Saline market.