Monitoring the implementation of health education activities

While you are undertaking health education activities, make sure that the planned activities are actually delivered in the way that they have been planned. It is easy to begin with plans and then to go off the beaten track. The method which enables you to know whether the activities are being implemented as planned is called monitoring. Monitoring is the ongoing routine collection and analysis of information that you record as your activities are progressing. Using monitoring, you should be able to check whether activities are being carried out as planned, and whether they are effective or not. Monitoring will help you keep your work on track, and can let you know when things are going wrong. If things are going wrong, you will be able to take action to correct any problems. Monitoring should enable you to determine whether the resources you have are sufficient and are being well used —and whether the capacity you have is sufficient and appropriate.

Monitoring can take place at any time during the implementation process, on a regular or periodic basis. For instance, you will be able to monitor your activities daily, fortnightly or monthly, or as the need arises. So as you can see, monitoring is absolutely crucial.