Speeches Shim
The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), donated computer and teleconference equipment in partnership with the Ministry of Justice to enhance management at Madagascar's Court of Accounts and improve oversight of public funds. Like “mpirahalahy mianala,” the United States is supporting Madagascar in its efforts to foster prosperity by building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.
ANTANANARIVO — The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) project, is helping Madagascar fight COVID-19 and other infectious diseases through the donation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing equipment to the PZaGa public laboratory at Mahajanga Hospital in northwestern Madagascar.
The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) ACCESS health program, and in partnership with Project C.U.R.E., an American non-governmental organization that supplies medical equipment to developing countries, has donated 336 hospital beds and modern medical equipment for childbirth and surgery to 190 basic health centers and district hospitals in the Atsimo Andrefana region. The value of the donation is $825,000, more than 3.1 billion ariary.
With recent assessments showing that the food security situation in southern Madagascar continues to worsen, U.S. Ambassador Michael Pelletier announced today that the U.S. Government would contribute nearly $40 million in additional support to the drought-stricken south. This urgently needed funding will provide emergency food aid; treat malnutrition in young children, pregnant women, and new mothers; improve hygiene; and rebuild wells to ensure access to clean water.
For the past five years, the Mahefa Miaraka community health program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has been improving the delivery of community health services in rural parts of Madagascar. With the Mahefa Miaraka program coming to a close this month, it is transferring some equipment to the Ministry of Public Health to ensure the continued effective delivery of those services. USAID and Mahefa Miaraka today handed over six all-terrain vehicles, 23 motorcycles, and hundreds of computers and office materials to the ministry.
Today, USAID Mission Director John Dunlop and the Minister of Public Health Professeur Rakotovao Hanitrala Jean Louis marked the close of USAID’s five-year Community Capacity for Health Program during an online ceremony. Since 2016, the program, locally known as Mahefa Miaraka or 'Together we are capable' in the Malagasy language, has provided technical support to the Ministry of Public Health to implement the National Community Health Policy (PNSC) in seven regions – Analanjirofo, Boeny, DIANA, Melaky, Menabe, SAVA, and Sofia. While Mahefa Miaraka is closing, the legacy of its work and many of its initiatives will continue.
U.S. Ambassador Michael Pelletier recognized Dr. Gilbert Andrianandrasana with the U.S. Embassy’s Champions of Madagascar “Mpiaradia” Award for his leadership in delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals and health centers across Madagascar. Dr. Gilbert is the Chief of Party for the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) IMPACT health program. The U.S. Department of Defense provided the PPE supplies as part of its ongoing efforts to mitigate and prevent COVID-19.
The United States congratulates Madagascar on the successful arrival of 250,000 doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine on May 8. This shipment was made possible through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The United States recently announced an initial $2 billion obligation—out of a total planned $4 billion— to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to support the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, making us the single largest contributor to global COVID-19 vaccine access.
Malaria remains one of Madagascar’s major public health problems. It is the fourth leading cause of disease and one of the top reasons people seek care at health centers. In 2020, nearly two million cases of malaria were reported in the country, almost twice the number of cases reported in 2019.
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Last updated: July 26, 2021
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