The project has trained 1,800 ministry of public health service providers and data managers.

The US government and Madagascar recently marked a three-year partnership to strengthen the African nation's health information system to improve care for the 7.3 million people.

Since 2020, the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) Measure Malaria project has trained 1,800 Ministry of public health service providers and data managers to collect and analyse data to guide government health policies, programs, and health service delivery.

Managed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the $5 million project has helped Madagascar collect and analyse private sector data, monitor and evaluate health surveillance and malaria control plans to inform national and regional health policy.

In a statement, the US embassy in Madagascar said the Analamanga region alone, 20 private hospitals now enter data directly into an electronic health data management system.

The project has also helped ministry staff conduct regular data reviews and provide supervision at the regional, district, and community levels to control malaria and promote maternal and child health, family planning, and immunisation services.

With PMI support, Madagascar has reduced the number of confirmed malaria cases from 2.3 million to 1.7 million in the last year, a reduction of more than 25 per cent that has saved lives and kept the Malagasy people healthy and productive in support of the country’s development.

PMI Measure Malaria is led globally by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is implemented in Madagascar by ICF Macro Inc. and John Snow Inc.

At a recent ceremony, USAID Health, population, and nutrition office acting director David Parks said: “The ability to collect and analyse health data is a smart investment that enables decision-making to improve the health and well-being of populations.”