Tracking Development - Rio Tinto - Qit Madagascar Minerals

The Production Phase
on foot to access potable water. The water wells also
help reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and partners
such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),
QMM supports the biannual and nationwide Mother
and Child Health week. By supplying transportation,
vaccinations, nutritional supplementation and other
supplies, staff and materials are able to travel to the
eight communes in which QMM is working. QMM has
identified populations previously unable to participate
in the events due to their remote location. Once a
month, since 2005, health staff access these isolated
populations and provide essential health services.
A maternal and child health programme, implemented
in collaboration with the CSB in Ambinanibe, involves the
establishment of a health and management committee
composed of 60 mothers. Community health agents, along with
committee members, have undergone training on the main highrisk
and prevalent diseases. They are active in their communities,
taking part in vaccination campaigns, the regular follow-up of
undernourished children and monitoring of pregnant and
breast-feeding women. QMM continues to sponsor wellness
campaigns in which volunteer peer educators, “wellness
champions,” sensitise target populations on key health issues
such as HIV, STIs, malaria and diarrhoeal diseases. They are
also involved in the mass distribution of condoms, disinfectant
solution (Sur Eau) and impregnated mosquito nets.
Community health agents regularly provide consultations on high-risk and prevalent diseases within the communities they work.
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