Antananarivo, Madagascar: The US government through USAID has committed for decades to supporting the Malagasy people in fighting poverty. USAID launched officially in August 2011 the Malagasy Healthy Families (MAHEFA) program, a $35 million 5-year community-based integrated health program that provides quality health cares to rural populations in isolated areas in northern and northwestern Madagascar.

The goal of the program is to improve maternal, neonatal and child health and family planning services in about 350 isolated and underserved communes in the 32 districts of the Boeny, Betsiboka, DIANA, Melaky, SAVA, Menabe and Sofia regions. MAHEFA will also support the Malagasy communities in their efforts to improve access to safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation, and to fight malaria and chronic child malnutrition.

The MAHEFA program is today operational in five regions of Madagascar, including Menabe, SAVA, Melaky, Boeny and Sofia. Ms. Aleathea Musah, Director of USAID/Madagascar’s Health, Population and Nutrition Office, presided on October 11 in Antsiranana over the regional launch of the program for the DIANA region and its five districts: Antsiranana-I, Antsiranana-II , Ambilobe, Ambanja and Nosy Be, covering a total of 65 communes.

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. is the lead partner in project implementation. It will closely work with local and international groups, such as Manoff and Transaid.

USAID is today the largest health donor in Madagascar. With MAHEFA program, USAID is supporting projects that provide essential and life-saving health services in more than 70% of communes across the country.