Madagascar

Reducing the exclusion of children with disabilities

A young boy with Lymphatic Filiarisis having his feet washed as part of a large community care project, Madagascar
^{© S. Bonnet - Handicap International}

One of the poorest countries in the world, Madagascar is finding it difficult to meet the challenges raised by its rapid population growth. Few facilities exist to care adequately for the most vulnerable children, and the situation faced by children with disabilities is particularly difficult.

Handicap International has been present in Madagascar for more than 20 years. Our strategy is aimed at increasing the social involvement of people in disabling situations. It focuses on two key areas of action:
• Territory and disability: fostering the promotion of the rights and social inclusion of people living with a disability.
• Disability risk prevention: reducing risk factors, both individual and environmental, in the field of public health.

Key Facts - Madagascar

• Population: 20.1 million
• Household Consumption: $404 per year
• Life Expectancy: 61 years
• Human Development: 135th out of 169 countries

^{Source: UNDP HDR 2011}

Our Activities

	Inclusive education A national project to promote and improve the rights and access to education of children and young people in disabling situations, particularly those with a mental disability.
	Social and economic inclusion This project is designed to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in the social and political life of the Antananarivo urban commune and their integration into the local development strategies and decisions.
	Disability in the city This project promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities living in urban areas within the wider community. By involving public, private and civil society stakeholders it aims to create the conditions for the effective participation of people with disabilities living in the towns of Majunga, Diégo Suarez, Tuléar and Tamatave.
	Preventing disabilities caused by Lymphatic Filiarisis Lymphatic Filariasis is a major public health issue in Madagascar. This project aims to develop care-management processes, to help improve referrals and to create coordination between key players. In order to do this, we are putting in place a network of 600 community workers who will be supervised by our community facilitators. This will enable us to reach out to people living in highly isolated regions which are difficult to access.
	Disability rights This project seeks to promote and implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). It aims to build the capacities of disabled people’s federations, explain the convention in straightforward terms, and raise awareness among political socio-economic stakeholders about the rights of people with disabilities.

Personal account - Madame Masy, a patient involved in prevention
Madame Masy is 76-year-old woman who lives in the rural town of Tsivangiana in the Vatomandry district of Madagascar. After receiving treatment for Lymphedema, she now raises awareness and even gives health advice to other patients in her village and those in the surrounding area.

Madagascar

Reducing the exclusion of children with disabilities

Key Facts - Madagascar

Our Activities

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