Spearheaded the creation of the national IEC Task Force responsible for harmonizing messages across 10 health and family planning programmes. Assisted revision of national EPI policy and new nutrition policies to address child feeding and micro nutrient supplementation. Assisted in implementing 1997 & 98 National Immunization Days for polio eradication. Produced IEC kits around vaccination, ARI, breast-feeding, nutrition, diarrheal disease and malaria. Kits consisted of: counseling cards, news letters, radio spots, 4-6 suggested village theatre scenarios. Launched a school-to-community programme in 50 schools to disseminate health information.

Health, nutrition, child survival, child rights.

Madagascar is one of few countries in the world where infant mortality, child mortality and maternal mortality rates have not decreased in recent years. BASICS works at all levels of the health care system-national to community. Introduced IMCI to Madagascar - the first francophone country to undertake health worker training and the first to launch a community-based approach. Collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH).