Speeches Shim
Since June 2019, 87 women have been working with the USAID Mikajy project to establish sustainable market gardens where they grow a wide range of produce, such as onions, tomatoes, and cabbage, for their own use and for sale.The women have learned new, conservation-friendly farming methods that promote minimal land use and cultivation of healthy soils. They have also been equipped with tools, such as watering cans and shovels.
In 2018, Madagascar enacted a new family planning law allowing youth to seek family planning services without parental consent. However, young couples still face major obstacles accessing these vital services due to a lack of availability, persistent cultural and religious beliefs, and minimal information about available options.
Just a single, sandy road knits together three ecological treasures along the west coast of Madagascar. Take the road north from the mangrove-fringed coastal city of Morondava and you’ll discover the towering Avenue of the Baobabs. Head farther north, and you’ll find the fortress of limestone spires and deep gorges of the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Nestled in between are the dry forests of Menabe-Antimena, home to many lemur species, Malagasy giant jumping rats, and fosa, Madagascar’s largest predator.
Malaria is one of the leading causes of mortality among children under five in Madagascar. Atsimo Andrefana is one of Madagascar’s regions most severely impacted by endemic malaria. More than half of the population in this region lives more than five kilometers from the nearest health facility, putting Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) on the front lines in the fight against malaria.
Exclusive breastfeeding — when an infant receives only breast milk without any additional food or drink for the first six months — is the single most effective intervention to reduce child mortality. Despite this, only 37 percent of children in low- and middle-income countries are exclusively breastfed.
Comment
Make a general inquiry or suggest an improvement.