Azafady – Project Rano, Madagascar

The Malagasy population is considered some of the poorest people in the world. Only 27% have access to clean water; in rural areas, the number is as low as 10-20%. Polluted water is one of the main causes of disease in the rural areas, where toilets are rarely found. Villages in which there has been no health training usually have serious health problems, with malaria and water-borne diseases being most common. Widespread ailments include typhoid and bilharzia, respiratory infections and sexually transmitted diseases. The cholera epidemic had claimed at least 2,244 lives as of January 2001.

Azafady, a local organisation with 10 years of project work in South East Madagascar, helped local communities to establish improved sanitation and hygiene practices in the poorest rural areas of the country through Project Rano. As well as installing latrines, wells and village pharmacies, Azafady also supplied the necessary follow up support to educate and raise awareness in the community.

TRAID's donation of £25,000 in 2002 allowed Azafady to work closely with communities to counteract the threat of water-borne diseases and new epidemics such as cholera. One thousand latrines, 15 wells and 5 village pharmacies have been built, and various education and awareness raising activities have taken place. This has aided between 5,000 and 10,000 people.

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