Study of operational aspects of pulse polio booths during Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign in assembly segments of East Delhi.

The study was undertaken with the objective of observing operational aspects of 609 pulse polio booths established during Intensified Pulse Polio Campaign in East Delhi on National Immunisation Days (NID) during 2001-2002 through well designed format. The average number of persons present on duty at polio booths was 3.73 against a recommendation of 4 per booth. All the booths had vaccine carriers but some of them were not following the guidelines laid for maintaining the cold chain. One sixth "(15.4%)" of the booths needed fresh supplies of vaccine carrier. There is need for deployment of motivated trained manpower at polio booths to ensure the success of Pulse Polio Campaign. Maintenance of cold chain and quality assurance of vaccine administered to children in the field remain a challenge. More than half (55.7%) booths did not have any volunteer. Absence of volunteers from the community in more than half of the booths warrant for strengthening the linkages between the governmental agencies and the community.