Health News of Thursday, 24 February 2011

Source: GNA

Health workers urged to reach out to the vulnerable

Koforidua, Feb. 24, GNA - Dr Iyabo Olusanmi, Country Representative of UNICEF, has called on health workers to ensure that they reached out to the vulnerable and deprived population in the poorest areas. She urged them to design thorough research communication plans and their monitoring and evaluation components to be able to achieve their Communication for Development (C4D) interventions.

Dr Olusanmi was speaking at the closing ceremony of a five-day workshop for capacity building in using programme research, monitoring and evaluation components for (C4D) interventions for UNICEF Ghana and partners. The workshop, aimed to strengthen the capacity of UNICEF staff and government counterparts in research, monitoring and evaluation skills especially for C4D interventions brought participants from all the 10 regions of the country.

Dr Olusanmi appealed to participants to move towards implementing the action plans for the key behaviours outlined in the C4D strategy in their respective regions.

At the end of the workshop the participants were able to plan evidence-based and results-oriented formative evaluations as well as monitoring and evaluation components for C4D interventions. Participants were also able to state the difference between process and behavioural monitoring and evaluation, apply causal analysis to C4D interventions and designed process and behaviour indicators based on causal analysis.

They also designed and managed results-based C4D monitoring and evaluation systems with special emphasis on participatory monitoring and evaluation approaches.

Participants also recalled and applied participatory research and planning methodologies that enhance the capacity of communities to take charge of their own sustainable development. They also provided practical guidance for concrete application of human rights, equity evidence-based and results-oriented strategic planning of C4D intervention in different programme context.