Madagascar
Reducing the exclusion of children with disabilities
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© S. Bonnet/Handicap International
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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 25 years. Our strategy is aimed at increasing the social involvement of people in disabling situations. It focuses on three 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
Avoiding the consequences of a disabling diseaseHandicap International’s project in Madagascar against lymphatic filariasis, a severely debilitating disease, focuses on working with patients and communities, to promote effective management of the disease.
Madame Masy, a patient involved in preventionMadame Masy is 76-year-old woman who lives in the rural town of Tsivangiana in the Vatomandry district of Madagascar. She has Lymphedema. Before Handicap International intervened, she was suffered from the acute attacks at least twice a month. During every attack, she could not do anything due to the unbearable pain.
Our projects
 | 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. |
| 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. |
 | Prison project
Aims to prevent the development of physical and psychological impairments by improving the detention conditions of prisoners in three institutions (Tamatave, Vatomandry and Tulear). Activities include meeting the essential needs of prisoners for health, food, hygiene and rights, providing psychological support and organising social and professional activities to improve the inclusion process at the end of the detention period. The last section of the project consists in gathering experience in order to work on a model which will be used as a basis for expanding activities in prisons. |
| 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. |
 | Preventing sexual abuse
The project started with an in-depth analysis of the socio-cultural, legal and psychological context of the sexual abuse of children with disabilities. The second phase aims to raise awareness and to mobilise community resources to prevent sexual abuse. In partnership with Save the Children. |
