Setting objectives and targets

Setting Objectives and Targets

Goals, aims, objectives and targets are all ways of describing the desired direction of a service. They differ in terms of breadth and detail.

Goals: - Are broad statements. There is generally one goal for a service. This might be:' Health for all by 2000 and beyond.'

Aims: - There are a number of aims relating to the goal. They are specific to particular health problems. One might be: 'To raise the nutritional status of women and children.

Objective: - For each programme aim, there may be a number of objectives which are specified in measurable terms. An objective for the above aim might be: "To ensure that 95 per cent of children are adequately nourished"'

Targets: - For each objective, there may be various targets which specify various points on the way to the attainment of the objective. They are defined in relation to a point in time. For example, a target for the above objective might be: "To ensure that 75 per cent of children are adequately nourished by 2000"

If the programme is made to have an objective and target, it must be SMART:

S - Specific,

M - Measurable,

A - Achievable,

R - Realistic

T - Time specific/Time framed

Example: By the end of 2002, 90% of eligible children will be vaccinated against six target diseases in Omo Nada Woreda.