The eradication programme engaged whole communities, forming important partnerships – with the World Health Organisation, Unicef, the Indian Red Cross and non-governmental organisations – and accessing children even in areas of insecurity, such as several states with violent Maoist insurgencies.
Isolating an agency's personnel and materials in compounds with guards, defensive walls and limited access has in fact long been a normal response in many areas of insecurity.
However, indicators of patient history and physical exam and patient perceptions of quality were higher in areas of insecurity.
The apparently higher coverage in areas of insecurity is likely the result of inaccurate target population estimates.
The plan addresses the operational challenges of vaccinating children, including in densely populated urban areas, hard-to-reach areas and in areas of insecurity.
The plan addresses the operational challenges of vaccinating children, including in densely populated urban areas, hard-to-reach areas and areas of insecurity.
Low immunization coverage was a key factor behind the outbreak, which was also fuelled by frequent population movement and areas of insecurity.
Afghanistan has remained in a dynamic state of conflict with unique challenges for data collection and increasing areas of insecurity [ 6– 11].
If both situations are not adequately dealt with by human resources management, this may explain such undesirable consequences as loss of quality in the provision of services, greater exposure to areas of insecurity and higher levels of stress [ 27].
This pilot study of a novel method of data collection in health facility assessments showed that an approach using locally-based survey teams provided markedly increased access to areas of insecurity.
