CRC/C/MDG/3-4 - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

CRC/C/MDG/3-4
first group of 14 has been trained. In spite of everything, there is considerable need. The
FMM has also put a good deal of effort into preparing a sign language dictionary, which
will be distributed.
14. Culture and sports
337. Associations and specialized centres are attempting to promote sports to children
with disabilities by organizing sporting competitions to promote the cause of children with
disabilities and provide the public the opportunity to have a new perspective on people with
disabilities.
338. There is a very active "Handisport," or sporting federation for those with disabilities.
This federation brings together several disciplines, including wheelchair basketball, track
and field for visually handicapped or partially sighted persons, pétanque and torball. At the
2007 Indian Ocean Games, which took place in Madagascar, Malagasy people with
disabilities participated and worn medals.
339. Access to publicly organized recreation, however, remains limited and concentrated
in urban areas.
B. Health and medical services
1. Institutional framework
340. The State recognizes and establishes the right of each individual to the protection of
his or her health starting at conception (art. 19 of the Constitution). This right to health and
development involves the responsibility to prevent illness and to meet the health needs of
the children in case of illness.
341. Taking into account the 2000 United Nations Millennium Declaration, the President
of the Republic and the Government are devoting particular attention to maternal and child
health.
2. Overview of indicators
342. The essential data concerning children’s health indicate a positive trend throughout
the past years.
343. The decrease in the mortality rate for children under age five, which began in 1985,
accelerated between 1997 and 2003.
Table 16
Mortality rates
Year / rate 1992 1997 2004
Maternal mortality 507 488 469
Infant mortality 93 88 58
Child mortality 153 142 94
Source: National child health policy (PNSE 2005).
344. Among the factors that have contributed to this decrease are the 2003 revitalization
of immunization coverage in the most disadvantaged districts, the Expanded Programme on
Immunization (EPI), the measles immunization campaign of 2004 (nine million children
were vaccinated) and the polio immunization campaign of 2005.
58 GE.10-42176 (EXT)