Micro Level Utility Mapping for Health and Social Infrastrcture by GPS Survey The Objective During last few decades health sectors of the 3rd world countries got a special attention from different section of the international bodies and several attempts were made for improvement of the health services both in the urban and rural sectors of India. Focusing towards West Bengal the largest and the most successful programme in the recent past was Indian Peoples Programme commonly known as IPP VIII which was implemented in Below Poverty Level population of 52 urban local bodies of west Bengal. The effect of this was a total upsurge in the urban health services and health indicators improved dramatically. This was a first programme owned by the community and both its achievement and failure was shared by the community .How ever it never reached the total population and Urban health care system remain one of the most unattended areas of the society. Its only from last few years with the drive to eradicate polio from Unicef and WHO, a comprehensive and strategic programme : Pulse Polio which had a community base approach and department of health Govt of West Bengal provided the leadership with the Chief minister leading from the front. All the political, social and religious leaders assembled under one banner for eradicating polio. Technology also played a pivotal role in the entire success story. Specially the Geographical Information System which not only mapped the deficient area for a prior attention but also provided a direction of the status of progress in District /Block/ and Booth level.  The Executions A location base map prepared by hand held GPS with the instant booth level data helped the entire programme to plan the action strategy through out the state. Most of the urban centers which had a digital georefferenced base map along with the digital Block map all the health infrastructure was mapped by hand held GPS . This mapping technique was fast and had an immediate impact with the ground level staff of the health service provider, they either accepted the spatial accuracy of the location or wanted immediate correction of the inaccurate location with their help. Both were helping to develop a sense of ownership and with the round by round data with a progressive assessing nature helped them to reach a target which was not being done other wise. The visual impact of the identified deficiency of the concern area was an indicator of performance, thereby giving the Block level and District level supervisor a decision making tool for a better target for the following round.  The entire state with all the districts their blocks and booths were mapped and round by round data which was supplied through Department of health Govt of West Bengal was digitally recorded analyzed and an instant feed back was given to the District authority for future course of action. Similarly the Urban centers wre also mapped and monitored for a total success of the project. With the achievement in the Pulse Polio which has been internationally,the focus now has been given to the routine immunization area which is tougher. Principally it is a programme which is carried out throughout the year and has different vaccine to be given, secondly it needs a perfect infrastructure both in human and physical of a permanent nature. So the mapping was extended for both the parameter and success indicator was related with them .It was difficult to get the data base of about 9000 odd location of the sub centers. Same methodology was also extended here also by providing them and initial format and incorporate the correction provided by the District/Block authority with the relevant data base. The process is on and so far about 7500 sub centers has been located digitally and data base attached with about 70% of them .  The process of data collection was the toughest among the entire procure. But a huge group of social mobiliser through a number of dedicated group of NGO bridged the gap. A timely intervention from the District authority and to provide the leader ship was also matered.  |