Madagascar: success of the exchange workshop on Health

This workshop, which was held as a closed session in Antananarivo to comply with the health measures in force, brought together close to 37 participants among the DCI’s twenty or so public and private partners working in the health sector in Madagascar*. The primary purpose was to foster the networking of various players in order to exchange views on the key issues they face when implementing their initiatives by promoting a better understanding of each other’s actions, especially for those working in the same geographical region.

The DCI has always encouraged synergy between its partners in order to create greater mutual understanding and generate reflection and debate regarding approaches and practices implemented.  The aim of this synergy is to initiate cooperation by working on the complementarity of skills with a view to funding relevant projects addressing the needs of populations and leading to a genuine improvement in living conditions.

The ultimate goal of the workshop was also to identify a common advocacy message among all the players represented who are involved in healthcare in Madagascar; a message which will be presented to the Madagascan Ministry of Health by the DCI as part of the political dialogue under the Framework Agreement binding the two countries.

Some of the specific issues discussed included the community health approach, sexual and reproductive health, and access to healthcare.  Topics relating to the resilience of the healthcare system in a time of crisis, healthcare inputs as well as cooperation between the players concerned were also discussed at round table sessions.  By way of reminder, health is a priority intervention area for the Monegasque Cooperation. It represented over a third of the Principality’s Official Development Assistance over the last three years and has had an impact on one million beneficiaries.

*Andrainjato University Hospital, Tambohobe University Hospital, CHU-JRA Haematology Unit, Support Unit for the implementation of Universal Health Cover, Office for the Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, National Malaria Control Programme, World Health Organisation, Action contre la Faim, Charles Mérieux Infectiology Centre, Mérieux Foundation, Groupe de recherche et d'échange technologique (GRET), Humanité et Inclusion, Inter Aide, Pasteur Institute in Madagascar, Madagascar’s Institute of Applied Research (IMRA), Médecins du Monde, Young Leaders Project, Santé Sud, Sambatra Izay Salama (SISAL), Vahatra.