I chose the CBNRM case study about bringing higher quality integrated healthcare to the rural areas of
Madagascar. For the communities in rural Madagascar there are three main concerns: the poor state of the roads that make it hard to transport goods or get medical help, the slash and burn agricultural style that threatens the local plants and wildlife, and the lacking access to medical services.
The pilot program of the Integrated Health Care for Conservation Programme (IHCCP) focused on alleviating the health care issue. For many of the villagers, having to journey more than 80km to the nearest hospital, part of that on foot, is not uncommon. Even if they get there, they most often cannot afford the expensive medicine.
While there is local traditional medicine, based on the use of medicinal plants, the continuing loss of biodiversity in the area, the unsustainable ressource usage and the fading trust in the local medicine resulted in a need for action.
Villagers in Madagascar
After many meetings of IHCCP members with the local elders, a clinic was build in one of the villages by the community with local materials and managed by a council of community members. In the clinic, both a medical doctor and a traditional healer are available. Whenever possible, traditional medicine is used, which is also free for the villagers. About 60% of diseases where treated with local plants this way.
As a result, not only do the villagers have better and cheaper access to health services, but it also renewed their trust in the traditional local medicine. This made them realise the value of the local plantlife and they are striving to use their ressources in a more sustainable manner.
To me, this is a great example of how strengthening the community and its local traditions can help solve many different problems. Relying on local medicinal plants instead of buying expensive medicine has helped not only the villagers themselves, but also worked towards saving the forests and plants in the area.
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