Social Marketing Company (SMC) has launched SMC Zinc 20mg dispersible tablets as an adjunct therapy to oral saline to prevent and treat diarrhoea among under-5 children. Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd is the manufacturing partner of SMC. Ms. Lois Bradshaw, Director, Office of the PHN, USAID/Dhaka and SMC Managing Director were present at the official launching programme of SMC Zinc held at the SMC Head Office in Banani on September 24, 2008.

Every year, approximately 2 million children globally and 100,000 children in Bangladesh die of diarrhoea. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommend the use of Zinc as an adjunct therapy to oral saline to reduce mortality and morbidity caused by diarrhoea.

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

Over the past three decades, SMC has spearheaded the effort to improve diarrhoeal disease management through expanding the use of oral saline. SMC’s ORSaline-N® and ORSaline® Fruity account for approximately 60% of the total Oral Saline market.