The role of a PHN in national programme for prevention of nutritional blindness includes all of the following… - PGICH Noida NO-2025

PGICH Noida NO-2025

Community Health Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: PGICH Noida NO-2025

Explanation

The statement that Vitamin A should be withheld during measles is incorrect and represents a dangerous practice.
Measles infection is a major risk factor for severe Vitamin A deficiency because the virus depletes the body's stores.
This depletion can lead to complications like xerophthalmia (blindness), severe diarrhea, and pneumonia, significantly increasing the risk of death.
Therefore, national and WHO guidelines mandate the administration of a therapeutic dose of Vitamin A to all children diagnosed with measles to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Option A: This is a correct statement regarding the programme. The target age group for Vitamin A supplementation is 9 months to 5 years.
Option B: This is a correct statement. After the initial 1,00,000 IU dose, all subsequent doses given every 6 months are 2,00,000 IU.
Option D: This is a correct statement. The first dose of 1,00,000 IU is strategically administered at 9 months along with the measles vaccine to improve programme coverage.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain National Programme for Prevention of Nutritional Blindness (Vitamin A Prophylaxis) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's correct understanding and implementation of the Vitamin A schedule is a direct intervention to prevent a major cause of childhood blindness and reduce child mortality.
Nurses play a vital role in educating caregivers about the importance of Vitamin A, especially during illnesses like measles, and dispelling harmful misinformation.
What if? A child with measles presents at the clinic, and the mother reports the child received a Vitamin A dose two weeks ago. The nurse should still administer another therapeutic dose as per guidelines for treating active measles, as the infection rapidly depletes Vitamin A.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword 'EXCEPT'. This signals that three of the options are correct statements, and your task is to find the one false statement.
Second, recall the standard protocol for the National Programme for Prevention of Nutritional Blindness (Vitamin A supplementation).
Third, evaluate each option against this protocol. Think about the target age group, the dosage schedule, and any special considerations.
Option A (up to 5 years), Option B (2 lakh IU subsequent doses), and Option D (1 lakh IU first dose at 9 months) are all core, factual components of the program.
Option C proposes withholding Vitamin A during measles. This should be a red flag. Recall that measles is a major stressor that depletes Vitamin A, making supplementation a critical life-saving treatment, not something to be withheld.
Conclude that the false statement (Option C) is the correct answer to the 'EXCEPT' question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: National Programme for Prevention of Nutritional Blindness (Vitamin A Prophylaxis)
Stem keywords: PHN, national programme, prevention, nutritional blindness, Vitamin A
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: Question is negatively framed (EXCEPT)

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E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 309-311

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 178-180