Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 5
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering the following questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ 5.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 5.1 and 5.2)
What is monitoring and why is it important for improving your local health services?
Answer
Monitoring is collecting and analysing routine information about the performance of you and your health team. Unless you collect information in this way it will not be possible to see how your work is progressing or whether you are meeting your health-related targets.
SAQ 5.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 5.1 and 5.2)
How do you think that you should monitor and control the health services that are your responsibility?
Answer
All Health Extension Practitioners need to monitor and control the health services that are their responsibility. This can be done by collecting relevant information and checking that targets and goals are being met. If there are problems then the information will be useful in deciding what sort of corrective action to take.
SAQ 5.3 (tests Learning Outcome 5.3)
What sorts of information will you need to collect in order to monitor and control your health activities?
Answer
Many different types of information are relevant to the monitoring process. This includes records of attendance by people from your community at the Health Posts as well as any financial records that are kept. Many other sorts of documentation can add to the monitoring process, including official reports and the records of any formal or informal meetings that are held on health-related subjects in your community.
SAQ 5.4 (tests Learning Outcome 5.1)
In what ways do you think that supervision can add to the effectiveness of your monitoring and control activities?
Answer
Supervision is one way that monitoring and control can be made more effective. During a supervision session there should be an open and honest exchange of views and opinions, and ways of tackling any problems should be identified.
SAQ 5.5 (tests Learning Outcome 5.4)
Zewde, a Health Extension Worker, who is a member of your health team, has not been performing well over the last few months. None of her recent targets have been met and members of the community have told you that she is rude to them. How would you give constructive feedback to her?
Answer
A health worker who is not performing well like Zewde should be offered some feedback as soon as any problem in their performance has been identified. This should usually be in a one-to-one session. The exact nature of the problem should be identified and she should be given an opportunity to explain what has happened from her point of view. It is important to maintain a good relationship with Zewde, but also be clear about the things that she will have to change in the future.
Summary of Study Session 5