Freedom Polio is an holistic m-Health solution designed for effective Community Level Health Management. The project is designed and developed by ZMQ in partnership with CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP), working in community-driven health and development. The project is implemented via an extensive network of over 1300 Community Mobilization Coordinators (CMCs).
The CMCs conduct social mobilization activities in high-risk areas to promote implementation and acceptance of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), supplementary immunization activities (S.I.A) and routine immunization (RI) coverage. The CMCs also work with the Social Mobilization Network (SM-Net) that works with underserved communities in high-risk areas in coordination with district governments, National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP) and other partners. The Project is implemented on the ground through three NGOs partners of Population Concern International (PCI), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA); and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in 56 Blocks of 13 high-risk districts in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The project is reaching over 1.2 million children per year under-5 years old and over all 21 million children under 15 years of age.
It is a three tier network of CGPP mobilizers work towards sustaining the changed behavior of the communities and supports immunization activities. Staff of 1300 mobilizers works in close association with government implementation structure and other implementing partners the program on ground like UNICEF, CARE, Rotary etc. On ground implementation structures are:
District Mobilization Coordinators (DMCs) – there are 14 DMCs. Each DMC is responsible for supervising the BMCs and conducting social mobilization activities throughout the district.
Block Mobilization Coordinators (BMCs) – there are 97 BMCs. Each BMC is responsible for social mobilization activities at the block level and overseeing and leading the CMCs.
Community Mobilization Coordinators (CMCs) -There are 1325 salaried CMCs. Each CMC is responsible for mobilizing about 500-600 households, including holding community meetings, bringing local influential people to home visits, and holding health camps. Each CMC maintains immunization status records for all of the under five children in their assigned areas and for those participating in vaccination campaigns.
The tools developed are the mobile application for CMCs on the basic java enabled feature phones, mobile application for BMCs and DMCs on Tablets/ Android Smartphone, and a universal web based backend system for regular tracking, monitoring and evaluation. In last one year, the project has created a positive behavior change by bring back almost 17.3% more households to get their children immunized with Polio drops.
Client: CGPP, PCI, ADRA and CRS
