A delegation of senior representatives from the African Development Fund (ADF) donor countries visited two projects financed by the Fund in Madagascar this week to measure the impact of their contribution to African development. ADF is the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group,
During the visit, which took place on the sidelines of the second consultation meeting on the replenishment of the Fund's resources, beneficiaries described the projects as life-saving.
National Blood Transfusion Centre
The ADF delegation visited the National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC) at the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital (CHU/JRA) in Ampefiloha, a district of Antananarivo. The African Development Fund supported the project with a donation of $ 8,3 million, while the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) provided a loan of $ 4,7 million. The government of Madagascar provided support in the form of human resources and training.
The project launched in 2005 to control communicable diseasesi s critical to controlling HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis and hepatitis. It ensures the safety of blood transfusions and improves the population's access to preventive care, including the treatment for communicable diseases. The center also aims to build the country's capacity for epidemiological monitoring and surveillance.
During the visit, the General Secretary of Madagascar's Ministry of Health noted that the ADF fund had been wisely used. "There has been a tangible improvement in the quality of care since the centre was completed and there are now 70 blood transfusion centres throughout Madagascar."
Public Vocational Training Centre for Disabled People
The delegation then visited the Public Vocational Training Centre for Disabled People (CNFPPH) in Tsarahonenana Ampandrianomby. The budget for building and equipping the centre was $ 22,240,000, funded through an ADF loan and a donation of $695,000.
Two former trainees described the project as a life-saver for people marginalized by society, offering training that helps them find jobs in the formal economy.
Ms Raïssa was part of the cutting and sewing training cohort in 2013-2014. Despite her disability and disadvantaged background, she was able to find a job in the formal economy, thanks to the training she received at the centre.
Her resilience is an encouragement for the project to continue.
Thanks to a course in braille computing, visually impaired Justin, now has a job in accounting, stock management and customer relations for a company. The former trainee of the initiative has also been able to set up a small catering business.
The training he received allows him to carry out his own research, particularly for developing new recipes. Drawing from his experience with CNFPPH, he requested the delegation from the African Development Fund to continue to extend its impact to more lives and, including expanding it all over Madagascar.
The representatives of the ADF donor countries were accompanied on the visit by members of the current board of directors of the African Development Bank Group.
