With their crops destroyed, many were forced to rely on ever-dwindling food stocks, resulting in an increase in malnutrition rates. In response, our teams scaled up nutrition programs and provided treatment for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, many of whom also had malaria.
Immunization coverage remains low in Madagascar, with only 49 percent of children aged 12-23 months fully vaccinated. When measles cases rose in the northeast of the country, MSF supported local authorities to run vaccination campaigns, conduct awareness-raising activities and offer treatment.
In 2023, we concluded our intervention in the far south of the island, which began as an emergency nutrition response in March 2021 and evolved into a program focused on improving access to water in the Androy and Anosy regions. Our teams drilled boreholes, rehabilitated water points, and conducted studies on the issues and challenges surrounding sustainable water-point management. We shared and discussed our insights with state authorities, donors, civil society representatives, businesses, and humanitarian organizations. We also strengthened the capacities of local partners by training technicians who work on the repair and maintenance of hand pumps and made donations to support their activities, enhancing their efficiency.
