Case Study: A (Hypothetical) School-Based Deworming Project in India

This optional, ungraded activity is an opportunity for you to practice making a risk management plan, you can complete this activity for the DeWorm project. Read the case study background below. At the bottom of this page, you can compare your answer to that of an expert's.

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 241 million children between the ages of 1 and 14 years (or 68% of all children) are at risk of parasitic intestinal worms in India, known as soil-transmitted helminths (STH). This accounts for 28% of STH infections globally. These parasitic infections result from poor sanitation and hygiene conditions and are easily transmitted among children through contact with infected soil. The consequences of chronic worm infestation are anemia and under-nutrition, which impairs mental and physical development. Children with the highest intensity of STH infestation are often too sick or too tired to concentrate at school or even to attend school at all. This, in turn, can cause lifelong problems, including not being able to work at jobs with higher salaries.

Research has shown that mass deworming campaigns can be effective in areas where parasitic worms are endemic. For campaigns to be successful, children must take one albendazole tablet once per year. In February 2020, the Government of India will hold the first national deworming day to target all children ages 1-19 years, including those enrolled in public and private preschools and schools. The government is providing the tablets free of charge to all students and will obtain and distribute the tablets to the schools. The Government has already developed national guidelines, standardized curricula (training of trainers and teacher training materials), training of trainers and teacher training assessment tools (pre/post knowledge and skills tests), reporting forms, and supportive supervision forms (observation checklists). The Government needs assistance in rolling out other aspects of the project in certain regions.

Intervention

Imagine that a funder (Global DeWorm) asks your organization to support the deworming campaign at all public primary schools in the sub-district of Mormugao in the state of Goa, India. The project period is March 1 May 31. The campaign will be held in February. Your organization will coordinate with key government departments such as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of School Education to carry out the project. The sub-district has 20 public primary schools, with a total population of 6500 students and 160 teachers.

Major activities include the following:

• Hold 3 meetings with key stakeholders to coordinate the effective roll-out of the project.
• Create a written, agreed-upon plan detailing each stakeholders roles and responsibilities in the deworming campaign.
• Conduct 1 master trainer training-of-trainers (ToT) workshop for 20 participants using the government-provided TOT school-based deworming curriculum.
• Master trainers use the government curriculum to conduct trainings (1/school) for 160 teachers on the administration of albendazole to students and the completion of campaign day reporting forms.
• Master trainers provide supportive supervision to trained teachers during deworming campaign at 20 schools (to support the proper administration of albendazole and completion of reporting forms).
• Conduct an evaluation of the school-based deworming campaign project and share findings with key stakeholders.

Project goal: To support the Government of India to eradicate soil-transmitted helminths (STH) among school-aged children in Mormugao sub-district in Goa, India.

Project objectives:

1. By February, train at least 95% of the teachers in Mormugao sub-districts public primary schools to administer deworming tablets (albendazole) to students and complete campaign day reporting forms.
2. By February, trained teachers will administer albendazole to at least 95% of primary school students in public schools in Mormugao sub-district in Goa, India, in accordance with planned protocols.

Risk Management Plan

Create a risk management plan using this template.

A (hypothetical) School-Based Deworming Project in India: Risk Management Plan

Risk statement

(Identification)

How will this risk impact the achievement of project objectives?

How likely is this risk to actually happen?

Use a scale from 1-5 (where 1 = rare and 5=almost certain)

How can you address this issue?Next stepsAlbendazole does not arrive at the 20 schools in time for the campaignThis will delay implementation of the campaign and decrease morale of the teachers

2

It is possible, but unlikely.

• Regular communication with the government to stay aware of latest developments on procurement and shipment.
• Consider plan B of procuring albendazole (would have budget implications)

Establish roles and responsibilities for communicating with government on procurement