{"id":9574,"date":"2018-08-15T13:54:58","date_gmt":"2018-08-15T12:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=9574"},"modified":"2018-10-23T16:56:35","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T15:56:35","slug":"progress-experience-and-passion-11-years-of-supporting-community-health-services-in-madagascar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/progress-experience-and-passion-11-years-of-supporting-community-health-services-in-madagascar\/","title":{"rendered":"Progress, experience and passion: 11 years of supporting community health services in Madagascar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Often in my life, and in particular with my work in international development, I have strongly related to this quote from French philosopher Bernard de Chartres: <\/span><\/p>\n

We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. If we see more things than they, and things at a greater distance, it is not because of the sharpness of our sight<\/span> or our greatness, but because we are raised up high by them.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This has certainly held true for my two years working with Blue Ventures in Madagascar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Fishers

Fishers near Mahajamba Bay, northwest Madagascar | Photo: Jen Hacking<\/p><\/div>\n

15 August 2018 is Safidy\u2019s 11 year anniversary, an appropriate time to reflect on where we were a year ago, celebrate our accomplishments, and consider what lies ahead.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Last August, Blue Ventures celebrated the <\/span>ten year anniversary<\/span><\/a> of its <\/span>community health programme<\/span><\/a>, known in Madagascar as \u201cSafidy\u201d (the Malagasy word for \u201cchoice\u201d). <\/span>Integrating family planning with marine conservation<\/span><\/a> was a giant leap for a small conservation organisation, and each step since then has required innovation, teamwork and the continued trust and support of the communities we work with. <\/span><\/p>\n

Looking back at my two years with Safidy, I am reminded of how I, and everyone else in the organisation, has benefited from the progress, experience, and passion of those who came before us. It\u2019s amazing how much the programme has transformed and improved since its inception. Family planning, maternal and child health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services are all now major components of Blue Ventures\u2019 work. <\/span><\/p>\n

15 August 2018 is Safidy\u2019s 11 year anniversary, so it felt like an appropriate time to reflect on where we were a year ago, celebrate our accomplishments, and consider what lies ahead for the programme. <\/span><\/p>\n

This last year has seen us continue to deliver high quality health services in low-resource settings, pilot new activities that diversify our services and continue to meet the needs of communities, including:<\/span><\/p>\n