Madagascar

PSN is supporting an innovative project which has been set up by Blue Ventures, a UK based award winning marine conservation organization, which is working towards creating a community-led sustainable development project in Andavadoaka, a coastal village in Madagascar.

The project has the dual aim of protecting the delicate coastal ecosystems of the area, which would in turn aid poverty alleviation through sustainable use of the coastal resources and also begin to offer a basic contraceptive service under supervision of a trained medical officer.

The first stage of this project - with a particular focus on family planning - aims to reach the people of Andavadoaka, and its surrounding areas (about 2000 people). If successful, the next step will be to extend the service to all of the 30 villages within the new, enlarged marine protected area being developed by Blue Ventures and the coastal communities.

Family Planning.... 50 kms Away

Access to family planning and other medical services is currently very limited: women typically have to walk 50km to access basic contraceptive services. Fertility is very high (Total Fertility Rate - children per woman - of 5.2) and the population is set to double in 20 years (national average prevalence of contraceptive use is only 20% amongst women in union).

Currently the population of Madagascar is 18.3 million and predicted to rise to 28.2 million by 2025.

Maternal mortality is also high (1 in 200 live births), abortion is illegal and deaths from unsafe abortions push this figure higher still.

Helping these coastal communities to access family planning services has prompted the community to express a need for family planning and this will make a significant contribution to their ability to escape poverty and develop in a sustainable way.

It is also likely to significantly reduce the impact on the coastal ecosystems caused by the increase in the human population.