NCDs/UHC
According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) caused 71% of all global deaths in 2016. It is even more surprising that 77% of all NCD deaths are reported in low- and middle-income countries. The rapid increase of NCDs sensibly impede efforts around poverty reduction in low-income countries as it entails higher expenditure for health and medical services. Thus, interventions are required for those who have limited access to such services. Detection, screening and treatment of NCDs are key components of the response to NCDs and they should be affordable and accessible so as to contribute to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In Nepal, to raise awareness on and prevent from breast and cervical cancer, a series of health promotions were held and about 1,100 women benefitted from screening and referral services. In Honduras on the other hand, a new initiative has recently kicked off aiming at improving NCD-related medical services, especially diabetes and hypertension
Maternal and Child Health
The high maternal mortality partly represents difficulties in accessing to quality health services. Many maternal deaths are preventable, as the health-care solutions to prevent or manage complications are well known. Skilled care before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborns.
To correct health disparities for mothers and children in Nepal and Myanmar, health clinics were constructed in remote villages and thus accessibility of and hence convenience for residents were greatly improved. Immunization and antenatal checkup services were strengthened. Managerial and technical improvement has been also addressed through training programs.
In Honduras, for example, trainings aiming at proper care for pregnant women and safe childbirth for health center staff, health volunteers, and traditional birth attendants were provided. Besides, ambulances were repaired and the referral system as rapid emergency referral was further developed along with the health awareness activities.
In Sierra Leone, blood pressure and pulse measuring devices for pregnant women to ensure early detection and appropriate treatment of high-risk pregnant women were distributed in the target district. The devices with appropriate technology were developed for developing countries by King’s College London and are being distributed in collaboration with the Welbodi Partnership, a UK-based local NGO.
Nutrition
AMDA-MINDS has been implementing various projects in Honduras that include the Promotion of Home Gardening towards Improvement of Nutrition and Livelihood Project since 2017. In Vado Ancho City of El Paraiso Department, an eco-friendly farming method has continued to benefit 517 households with the support of 15 trained community promoters. In addition, three schools for farmers have been established as bases for future activities in the project. Those schools have been utilized not only as a place to acquire agricultural techniques and knowledge from instructors but also as opportunities to learn from each other.
In Madagascar, a new project has just launched. It aims at improving the nutrition status of under-5 children in the target areas of Atsimondrano District, where one out of two children suffer from stunting. To approach caretakers for their behavior changes, two activities were planned to be carried out, 1) training programs to build the local capacities to implement nutrition activities, and 2) promotion and campaigns for desired behaviors for nutrition improvement targeting the local population.
Environment
In 8 cities located in the mountainous areas of El Paraiso and Francisco Morazán Department in Honduras, where the declining amount of precipitation and rising temperatures have become more serious than ever before. Such climate changes threaten the level of crop production and thus AMDA-MINDS has been working to help eco-friendly sustainable agroforestry applied in harmony with the local environment by planting various type of trees, setting up a nursery bed and conserving water sources.
In Tsiafahy Commune of Atsimondrano District, Madagascar, the project to promote afforestation and environmentally friendly agriculture has just started in collaboration with CEMES, a local NGO specializing in agriculture. Approximately 700 people ranging from the young to the senior, worked together in planting 11,760 trees to preserve farmlands near the rivers with the technical assistance from CEMES. The number exceeded 2.6 times as many as the initial target. On the agriculture side, the farmers made their own choices on their crops such as strawberries and rice based on the soil and other survey results.
Income Generation
In two rural municipalities of Gorkha District of Nepal, an epicenter of the earthquake in 2015, AMDA-MINDS started to support small-scale farmers who had shown their interest in coffee cultivation. By providing 65 new farmers with cultiva- tion training, 6,200 seedlings, and the nursery technology from an existing coffee cooperative, the project had taken the first step towards the development of community-based coffee industry.
In Myanmar, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the deterioration of the security situation, the microfinance services for livelihood improvement program have been continuously delivered to vulnerable women in Meiktila Township. Currently, the program provides more than 2,700 women in 65 villages with a “Livelihood Improvement Service packages,” namely financial education, microcredit, and savings.