The Akbaraly Foundation, in partnership with the NGO ODV Alfeo Corassori – La Vita Per Te, and with the support of France through the French Development Agency (AFD), is launching a project to strengthen laboratory capacity and train healthcare personnel in the Haute Matsiatra region.
This one-year program aims to sustainably improve access to reliable, high-quality medical diagnostics—an essential condition for prevention, early detection, and treatment of women’s cancers and infectious diseases, particularly in rural areas and among vulnerable populations.
A project at the heart of public health priorities
The project is aligned with Madagascar’s national priorities in maternal health, prevention, and capacity building, and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in health, gender equality, and reducing inequalities.
The Haute Matsiatra region faces significant structural challenges that limit early detection of diseases, including cervical and breast cancers, as well as sexually transmitted infections. To address these issues, partners are implementing an integrated approach based on three key pillars: training healthcare professionals in prevention, diagnosis, and patient care; strengthening the technical capacity of the Rex Health Center laboratory in Fianarantsoa through the acquisition of biomedical equipment (hematology, biochemistry, HIV, STI, HPV testing) and the implementation of traceability and quality control systems; and expanding the deployment of the Mobile Unit to increase access to screening and awareness in rural and remote areas.
Testimonials
“This partnership is particularly meaningful for the Akbaraly Foundation. It reflects the trust placed in our organization and the recognition of the work carried out by our teams on the ground. By joining forces, we strengthen our ability to achieve our goals and create lasting impact for communities.” – Cinzia Catalfamo Akbaraly, President of the Akbaraly Foundation
“I welcome this partnership between the Akbaraly Foundation, a Malagasy philanthropic foundation, and France through the French Development Agency, which demonstrates our commitment to addressing the health needs of the populations of the Haute Matsiatra region. This partnership reflects France’s solidarity with the most vulnerable communities in Madagascar.” – Arnaud Guillois, French Ambassador to Madagascar
“The combination of public and private resources is a major asset in strengthening the impact of our actions for better health, particularly for women. We are very pleased with this first partnership with the Akbaraly Foundation, which has been developing ambitious programs to fight women’s cancers for nearly 20 years, with strong outreach in the most remote rural communities of Madagascar.” – Nicolas Le Guen, French Development Agency