An exemplary integrated approach to population health and conservation

Date added: Wednesday 24th March 2010

Blue Ventures' integrated approach to population health and conservation has received universal endorsement at a recent international policy symposium in London.

"If we are to improve health in poor communities, it is critical that we look at conservation and livelihoods", key note speaker, UCL's Professor Anthony Costello told delegates at the meeting organised by the Population and Sustainability Network.

Professor Costello, who chairs The Lancet's climate change and health commission, said: "The work of Blue Ventures in tackling marine conservation in Madagascar is exemplary in this regard."

The symposium heard that Blue Ventures' offers of support to a vulnerable coastal community in south west Madagascar have been enthusiastically received by villagers seeking to build their communities' resilience and adaptability to climate change.

Sea level rise and temperature-related coral-bleaching have rendered ancient fishing practices ineffective at feeding the rapidly growing local population in Andavadoaka. An influx of migrants using destructive fishing practices has added to pressure on fish stocks.

In this area of rural Madagascar women have their first child in their early teens. Family sizes far exceed the national average of 5, and are estimated at 12 children per family. Syphilis and gonorrhea are rife and there was little awareness of the need for protection from STIs.

Women keen to access contraceptive services faced a 50 km trek through a spiny forest to the nearest clinic.

With support from Marie Stopes International, Blue Ventures responded to the desire for better reproductive choices and piloted a powerful, cheap, grassroots solution - a local barefoot family planning clinic.

Project director Dr Vik Mohan spoke of the success of this integrated approach to the challenges posed by climate change, population growth and unsustainable resource use. He received universal support at the symposium.

 "Leaders in the field of population dynamics, reproductive health and rights, and climate change gave the project a very warm reception", says Dr Mohan.    

"This lends weight to our belief that this integrated approach to reproductive rights, health and conservation is a key method of adapting to climate change."  

Karen Hardee, Vice President of Research at Population Action International, agrees: "Blue Ventures has shown that programming that meets the expressed needs of communities, including for reproductive health and family planning as well as livelihoods, is well received and improves lives.

"The Madagascar Family Planning Project offers a strong model for strengthening resilience and helping the most affected countries adapt to the effects of climate change".

Kenya's minister of medical services, Hon Prof Peter Anyang Nyong'o and Uganda's minister for finance and planning Hon Prof Ephraim Kamuntu spoke of the need for this type of "holistic" approach to be piloted and rigorously evaluated, to assess its applicability around the world.

Blue Ventures is a full member of Year Out Group.