Community Health Volunteer's Training Manual - Population Council

Box 4.5.4: How to prepare and administer ORS
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Home Management of Minor Ailments
Get a sachet of ORS
Check Expiry date
Get a container with lid and a spoon
Wash them (the lid and spoon?) thoroughly with soap and rinse properly with water
Measure one big beer bottle or 2 small fanta bottles of water from the tap or borehole
and pour into a clean cup or container with a lid
If water is not from tap or borehole, boil and cool it before measuring it
Tear open one sachet of ORS and pour into the water in a bowl
Stir with spoon to dissolve
Serve in smaller quantities at frequent intervals until solution is finished
Repeat any time the child frees the bowels or vomits
Do not use the drink after 24 hours
Breast feed child frequently if child is still on breast
Topic 3 Referring clients
Referral means giving direction (written or verbal) to a client for consultation or review.
Here it applies to the CHVs directing patients or clients to a CHO who has the professional
or technical competence. The CHV should first recognise that the sick person can no longer
be treated at home. In addition, the CHV should know the process to seek further help and
where the appropriate providers are located.
This unit starts with a question and answer session on the type of case that a health volunteer
must refer to a CHO or health facility in Exercise 4.5.3.
Exercise 4.5.3 Question and
Answer
Objective
1. To discuss type of patients/clients/
diseases to refer to the CHO
Questions
1. What does referral mean?
2. Which client or disease condition
should a CHV refer to CHO?
Instructions to the Facilitator
1. Guide Participants in a question and
answer session on referral of clients
who may have social/health problems
2. List responses on flip chart for
discussion
3. Take participants through Figure
4.5.2 to 59 on Signs and Symptoms
for referral by CHVs to CHOs.
One group of clients who have to be referred to the nearest heath facility is the unconscious
patient. Unconscious patients are not aware of their environment and do not respond to
stimulation. Common conditions that cause unconsciousness in Ghana are: high fever,
especially in children, malaria, epilepsy, head injury, stroke, diabetes mellitus and meningitis
(infection of the brain cover). See Figure 4.5.2
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