Where There Is No Doctor 2011
FINDING OUT WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE
(EVALUATION)
From time to time in your health work, it helps to take a careful look at what and
how much you and your people have succeeded in doing. What changes, if any, have
been made to improve health and well-being in your community?
You may want to record each month or year the health activities that can be
measured. For example:
• How many families have put in latrines?
• How many farmers take part in activities to improve their land and crops?
• How many mothers and children take part in an Under-Fives Program (regular
check-ups and learning)?
This kind of question will help you measure action taken. But to find out
the result or impact of these activities on health, you will need to answer other
questions such as:
• How many children had diarrhea or signs of worms in the past month or year—as
compared to before there were latrines?
• How much was harvested this season (corn, beans, or other crops)—as
compared to before improved methods were used?
• How many children show normal weight and weight-gain on their Child Health
Charts (see p. 297)—as compared to when the Under-Fives Program was
started?
• Do fewer children die now than before?
To be able to judge the success of any activity you need to collect certain
information both before and after. For example, if you want to teach mothers how
important it is to breastfeed their babies, first take a count of how many mothers are
doing so. Then begin the teaching program and each year take another count. This
way you can get a good idea as to how much effect your teaching has had.
You may want to set goals. For example, you and the health committee may hope
that 80% of the families have latrines by the end of one year. Every month you take
a count. If, by the end of six months, only one-third of the families have latrines, you
know you will have to work harder to meet the goal you set for yourselves.
Setting goals often helps people work harder and get more done.
To evaluate the results of your health activities it helps to count and measure certain
things before, during, and after.
But remember: The most important part of your health work cannot be
measured. It has to do with the way you and other people relate to each other; with
people learning and working together; with the growth of kindness, responsibility,
sharing, and hope. It depends on the growing strength and unity of the people to stand
up for their basic rights. You cannot measure these things. But weigh them well when
you consider what changes have been made.
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