Natl Med J India
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The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in rural areas poses new challenges to an already overburdened health systems. We detail these challenges and identify opportunities to address them. The major challenges in service delivery in rural areas include poor accessibility, shortage of adequate manpower especially specialists in rural areas, irregular supply of medicines and lack of adequate diagnostic facilities. ⋯ Participatory health governance through community engagement has been shown to improve accountability and quality in health systems. Civil society organizations (CSO) can also improve awareness and health-seeking behaviour. New and evidence-based strategies need to be implemented to address health system challenges for tackling non-communicable diseases in rural areas.
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. The relevance of curriculum mapping to determine the links between expected learning outcomes and assessment is well stated in the literature. Nevertheless, studies confirming the usage of such maps are minimal. ⋯ . Through curriculum mapping, we were able to establish links between assessments and expected learning outcomes. We observed that, in the assessment system followed at MMMC, all expected learning outcomes were not given equal weightage in the examinations. Moreover, there was no direct assessment of self-directed learning skills. Our study also showed that assessment has supported students in achieving the expected learning outcomes as evidenced by the qualitative and quantitative data.
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Case Reports
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome with possible congenital Cytomegalovirus infection: A diagnostic dilemma.
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder, characterized by thrombocytopenia, eczema and recurrent infections. We report a 4-month-old boy who presented with respiratory distress, petechiae, organomegaly and eczema. ⋯ As peripheral blood smear showed microthrombocytopenia, Sanger gene sequencing was performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of WAS. This rare combination of possible congenital CMV infection in the background of WAS, misled the initial diagnosis.