Refresher Training for Frontline Health Workers in Expanded ... - RHO

Exercise 2 (found on Page 25 of the Module)
Small group discussion
Case study
The Medical Officer of Zinab Woreda PHC
In Zinab Woreda, the Medical Officer, Dr. Ali is managing the immunization program.
One day, he visits a district hospital and is shocked to find 19 children with measles,
some of them severely ill. He asks the hospital staff for information on the
immunization histories of the children.
- 15 had not received measles vaccine.
- 5 of these 15 had never been to a health centre or other health facility before
being hospitalized.
- 10 of the 15 had gone to a health centre for a measles immunization but had
not received it because the health workers would not immunize children with
colds or diarrhea.
- The remaining 4 out of the 19 children had received measles immunization in
the same health centre and had been at the right age for this.
Discussion
1. Which of these cases of measles could have been prevented? How?
All the cases could have been prevented by immunizing all the eligible
children with colds or diarrhea who had gone to the health center. The four
children who were immunized might have received impotent vaccine. Since
they all attended the same health center, there could be a problem with a cold
chain.
2. What should the medical officer do to reduce the number of measles cases in the
district?
The medical officer should find out what contraindications policy is being
followed by the health workers.
He should make sure that the policy is correct and that the health workers
applied.
Dr. Ali should also check the cold chain practices at the health center
attended by the fully immunized children.
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