Raja Faisal Abbas.
Polio eradication & MDG-4: a study of vaccine administering staff in polio campaign of rural Islamabad.
Pak J Public Health Jan ;2(4):29-35.

Introduction: Pakistan is rapidly turning out to be the only remaining threat along with Afghanistan and Nigeria to achieve global polio eradication. A sharp surge in confirmed polio cases in last few years despite aggressive and exhaustive polio campaigns reflects towards their ineffectiveness. Since the polio campaigns are human driven; the human interaction in implementing the campaign protocols cannot and should not be ignored. The objective of this study was to empirically examine the performance of the polio vaccine administering staff during the campaign days in rural Islamabad. It further determined their significance, level of proficiency as well as their effectiveness. Methods: The study employed the overt observation technique on the operational planning of and the execution by the polio campaign teams. Besides paired and detailed interviews of the lower and higher tier vaccine administering staff, interviews from the donor as well as the government side were also conducted. Additionally, group discussion of the polio campaign area in-charges was carried out. Results: Major findings of the study are the absence of a formal staff induction system, lack of training of polio campaign teams, their insufficient remuneration packages and also inordinate delay in its disbursement; and inconsistent social mobilization campaigns. Conclusion: The study recommends institutionalized induction of staff and their training, commensurate incentive structure with a smooth disbursement system, and consistent social mobilization campaigns in collaboration with the donor/international partner agencies.

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