Indian Ocean regional programme

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CONTEXT
The programme operates within the Indian Ocean region, and more particularly concerns Madagascar, the Comoro Islands and the Republic of Mauritius. In spite of the disparities in these countries’ development, poverty control is a priority for the Madagascan, Comoros and Mauritian governments. National programmes were launched in 2000, in order to stop the progression of situations of social vulnerability, particularly those of disabled people and people living in underprivileged areas of the towns. Our regional programme aims at improving the social participation of disabled people, and supporting the process of local urban development in the region’s towns.

BACKGROUND
Madagascar
We started working in Madagascar in 1987 and the initial focus was on improving access to treatment for disabled people by setting up orthopaedic and rehabilitation services in each province and by rehabilitating the Madagascan Rehabilitation Centre.
From 1996 onwards, activities began taking the issue of social integration for disabled people into consideration, and particularly their access to rights, via the creation and promotion of a structured associative movement. Since 1997 we have been running a local urban development project in Antananarivo, Toamasina, Toliary and Mahajanga.

Comoros
From 1987 until 1993, we ran a project for setting up orthopaedic and rehabilitation services on the three islands (Grande Comoros – Anjouan – Mohéli).

Republic of Mauritius
Since 1999, we are improving orthopaedic services and support to associations working with children with disabilities.

STRATEGY
Handicap International has now adopted a regional approach to improving the social participation of disabled people. There are three strategies:

• the consolidation of legislation on behalf of people with disabilities
• an increase in the offer of rehabilitation services for disabled people
• the strengthening and structuring of the associative movement in order to develop a higher quality of service. 

The strategy in local urban development consists in bringing together all the towns’ stakeholders (institutions, civil society, individuals) in order to find lasting solutions for improving the living conditions of people living in the poorest areas. This work is part of the urban policy of the municipalities concerned.

ACTIVITIES

1) Consolidation of legislation on behalf of disabled people
Assistance is given to national associations in the identification and diffusion of legal texts, and for a study on the socio-cultural perception of disability. Provincial and regional unions are also helped to develop advocacy on the basic rights of disabled people and the implementation of these rights. The emphasis is placed on the popularisation of rights, essentially using awareness campaigns.

2) An increase in the offer of care for disabled people
Mauritius: continued support to the Ministry of Health for the restructuring of the national orthopaedic workshop via staff capacity building.
 
Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles: launch of a survey concerning the offer of care for disabled people. 

Madagascar: work on filariasis training for the medical staff of Manakara district and feasibility study about the prevention and treatment of disability cases due to filariasis.

3) The strengthening and structuring of the associative movement in order to develop a higher quality of service 
We focus on the implementation of training programmes for building association’s organisational capacity, and that of their collectives. We also work to improve the quality of services offered, particularly in the field of adapted education.

4) Support to the local urban development process
The project has four complementary objectives:
– support to collective action (income-generating activity, study grants)
– actions for improving the constructions within the framework of citizen-friendly urban policy
– support to civil society organisations so that their role in urban management can be recognised
- launch, at municipal level, of an information campaign about municipal policies concerning  disabled people

BENEFICIARIES
People with disabilities, estimated at 1.5 million in the region
140 associations of people with disabilities
Populations from 12 underprivileged areas of Antananarivo, Toamasina and Toliary (Madagascar).

RESOURCES
Our team is made up of 69 national staff and 5 international staff.

CONTACTS
Tel: 261 20 22 338 18
E-mail: hi-dp@wanadoo.mg