Community Health Volunteer's Training Manual - Population Council

Module 2 Community Mobilisation and Tools
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are able to make better meaning about the original data. Now you know we are talking about
a city called Takoradi which has a population of 300,000.
Health data can help communities set their priorities for services. It also helps them to
monitor implementation of health services and the effect of CHPS on the health of the
community.
Data collection tools
There are various ways of collecting data. What does your tailor or seamstress do when you
ask them to sew a shirt or a dress for you? He/she takes your body measurements with a
tape measure. The tape measure enables him/her to collect data on your size so that he/she
cuts your cloth to fit you exactly as you want it. The tape measure is called a tool. A tool is
an instrument or devise used to collect data. In your work as a volunteer some of the tools
you will use to collect data are the community register, the child welfare card, the antenatal
card, and the community map. Some methods used in collecting data include interviews,
observation, questionnaire and focus group discussions.
Reporting
When we collect health data the information we gain from it should help us improve
the health of our community. Thus, in most cases the information should be used in the
community. Using its own resources, the community may use the information to develop
a community drug revolving fund and organise transportation for pregnant women to a
referral clinic or hospital. However, in many cases the community itself might not have the
means to solve its health problems. As a result, it might need assistance from other people or
institutions. For instance, if there is cholera outbreak the community would need assistance
from the Ghana Health Service to control it. Therefore, it is important to send the data you
have collected to people who can act on the problems. This is called reporting. Are you also
aware that some of the data may be used by government or international organisations for
making decisions?
Role of volunteer in data collection
As we had earlier discussed in Module 1, the central principle of CHPS is community
participation, which includes communities being involved in the planning, delivery and
monitoring of CHPS services. In the past, communities have not been involved in data
collection and use of health information. Usually, they were respondents to surveys and they
provided information for health records purposes.
An important role of the community health volunteer is to assist the CHO and the
community to collect and analyse data. The information is then used to perform activities
that will benefit the community either in the immediate, short term or long term. We