AMDA Multisectoral and Integrated Development Services (AMDA-MINDS)

Madagascar

Executive Director, ASOS in Madagascar
Dr. Jean Claude RAKOTOMALALA

Since March 2022, we have been providing mobile clinics to 42 villages in Beloha Androy District. In addition to outpatient consultation, primary health care services such as immunizations for under-5 children, antenatal checkups, and family planning are delivered as well. This activity has been highly appreciated by the district health department. A mother in the village of Ankilivoahangy, who had her 10-month-old child immunized, said to us, “We live far from the health center, so it has been difficult for us to receive basic health services. However, thanks to the mobile clinic, we are now free from worries about our child’s health.” The mobile clinic also offers health education which promote health awareness and foster the motivation and skills necessary to take action to improve their own health and their family. We will continue our activities to meet the needs of people in the community.

 

Honduras

A farmer engaged in agroforestry
Mr. Israel Andersi Espinal Contreras

In the Dry Corridor, where I live, rainfall has been decreasing even in the rainy season, and I lost many crops due to water shortages. My community has some springs which are very essential for us as sources of drinking water, domestic water and agricultural water. The project has taught me how trees, water and soils are related and what impact the natural environment has on our lives. For example, I have learned that moisture accumulates over the forest, that soils benefit from insects and fallen leaves, and that those soils filter rainwater. The knowledge has made me not only feel grateful to nature but also have a strong responsibility to nurture trees. I have planted various saplings with my neighbors, such as tabebuia rosea (flowering tree) and soursop (fruit tree) around those springs. By taking care of the planted trees and the water sources, I hope that the community will improve its water quality and quantity with lush greenery in the future.

 

A farmer
Heydi Johana Sanchez

Together with Ms. Reyna Maribel Torrez (on the left in the photo), I have been participating in a project to promote home gardening since October 2020, when the restrictions on going out due to COVID-19 were slightly eased. We used to buy expensive vegetables that came from the capital, but it was suspended because of COVID-19. Since then we had not been able to eat vegetables for almost half a year. We only ate beans, corns, and occasionally chicken and cheese.

I was very worried that my nutrition was unbalanced because I have a small child, but then I heard from a friend, who had already participated in the project, that I would be able to grow vegetables at home. I immediately decided to participate. Now I don’t have to buy my favorite tomatoes, peppers, cilantro (herbs), etc., and since I am learning how to grow without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, I can continue to eat safe vegetables even if I am restricted from going out again. I am really satisfied.

 

Coordinator of PROAJED*, Social Worker
Sandra Isabel Ruiz Alvarado

PROAJED (Project for objective actions for youth) has carried out training sessions to young people of 12-24 years old on the issue of sexual and reproductive health and prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS under the advisory of AMDA Honduras. We realize our training sessions in the capital city to whomever regardless of race, religion, sexual preference and gender.

We have very important experience because we have seen the young people’s quality of life has improved through empowerment by the themes we gave to each participant.

During the project we have met wonderful young people in our country, yet we cannot ignore the reality of the same young people having little opportunity for social, professional and economic development.

*PROAJED is one of local NGO partners under the Global Fund program in Honduras

Nepal

AMDA Nepal,SHINOHARA Scholarship Student
Dr. Nabin Dhakal

THANK YOU MESSAGE

To be a part of AMDA family is a wonderful experience for me. Since my association with AMDA Group in 2002, I have been serving the people in different location with different responsibilities. I was very happy when I had decided to work in AMDA Group as it is a much esteemed organization and they care about their members.

As such, AMDA Group helped me a lot by granting the SHINOHARA Scholarship for my further study in the Hasanuddin University in Indonesia for the post graduation on Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the SHINOHARA Scholarship Foundation*.

During my study, I felt my fortunate to be trained under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Husni Tanra, Who is also a member of AMDA Group as well as a president of AMDA Indonesia. Under his guidance, I could groom myself as a good anesthesiologist. I am very thankful to him not only for knowledge and skills but also for motivating me to develop positive attitude. He also played an instrumental role to grant me another scholarship from Hasanuddin University as well. In fact, I may not be able to get a chance for my further study without his support. Moreover, I am very thankful to other two members of AMDA Group, Prof. Dr. Idrus Paturusi, the Rector of Hasanuddin University, and Prof. Dr. Irawan Yusuf, the Dean of the Medical Faculty, for allowing me to study in Hasanuddin University and granting me their scholarship as well.

I also thank the Onomichi General Hospital in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, for their kind support for my further training in Pain Management. I feel myself fortunate to get a chance to learn some special skills in Pain Management under the supervision of Dr. Masaki SENAMI Ph. D., who is much closed with Dr. Sigeru SUGANAMI Ph.D., the President of AMDA Group. It would not be fair if I forget to thank AMDA Nepal and its family as they have always been supportive and cooperative to me since my association with AMDA in 2002.

In future, I will do my best to upgrade my knowledge and strengthen AMDA activities as well. Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the SHINOHARA Scholarship Foundation. At last but not least, may wish many students get a chance for further study, like me, for developing our country.

*SHINOHARA Scholarship Foundation

Established in 2001 by respecting and symbolizing the goodwill of deceased Dr. Akira SHINOHARA, who has dedicated his efforts for developing the medical & health sector at remote areas, Nepal. The Foundation grants the scholarship to medical personnel in Nepal for their further study.

 

Myanmar

Village Leader, Hi Taung Village
U Aik Pan

Our village is located in the remote mountainous area of the northern part of Shan State in Myanmar. About 500 people including Kachin and Palaung are living in our village. Due to the difficulty in access to the village, we face a lot of challenges including a lack of health and water/sanitation services.

In order to improve our living condition, we have conducted activities with AMDA-MINDS for water/sanitation and health with the support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. We have also constructed a library and installed play equipment in our community center with the support from Kobe Konan Lions Club. All villagers have contributed to getting materials and transporting them by donkeys all the way from the town to our village. In this way, we could manage to finish the construction work last summer.

I am very thankful to the warm support from Japan, which has helped us to have healthier life both physically and mentally.

 

Project Coordinator, Meiktila Field Office, AMDA Myanmar
Thida

Love letter to AMDA supporters in the world

AMDA activities in Meiktila

AMDA Myanmar has been operating various projects, especially in the field of medical and health care, in Meiktila Township since 1995 with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and other partners. I have been working for AMDA Myanmar since 1999, firstly as Accountant and Assistant for the Primary Health Care Project, and now as Project Coordinator for the Livelihood Improvement Program.

Livelihood Improvement Program

The ‘Livelihood Improvement Program’ has been implemented since January 2002 with support from the participants in Japan’s Postal Savings for International Voluntary Aid, Rotary International District 2780, the Global Citizen Foundation, Dr. Ogoshi, Ms. Doden and donations from well wishers around the world. The program aims at improving the livelihood of marginalized women, and provides service package; micro credit, health education, trainings, health insurance and savings for 1,500 women at 36 target villages. Project staff members visit each target village twice a month and conduct the project activities.

The project disburses the small scale loan to beneficiaries, and most of them invested it for retail sales, agriculture and animal husbandry. To understand about retail sales investment in the context of micro credit is simple. No investment, no profit. By suitable profit from project loan, at least they can earn their daily meal expenses. As for agriculture, if they haven’t money to buy seeds or fertilizers, they have to search the money from other money lenders with high interest, mortgaged properties and also to be trusted by them. Now beneficiaries can easily buy the seeds or fertilizer by the project loan. As for livestock, if the beneficiaries breed a pig or goat etc, they can repay the loan installment by other incomes. After the loan cycle completed, they own a pig or goat or …etc and they can expand their business by this livestock. Providing various training opportunity such as pig breeding, agriculture and food processing could enhance the beneficiaries’ livelihood skill. As such, throughout the loan activity, beneficiaries improved their living status. They may be able to repair their houses or construct new ones, purchase the household materials & kitchen utensils, support the education for their children, and solve the health problems of their family members.

The health education session has been provided to all beneficiaries at bi-monthly regular meeting. While they attend the regular meeting to repay the loan installment, they study about basic health such as safe delivery. Health education is done by AMDA staff at first, and then the members conduct peer education by using group discussion, game or competition method. Some beneficiaries joined the project due to their interest in loan, but late they have become interested in health education and gradually changed their behaviors. For example, beneficiaries care their and their children’s personal hygiene, clean and tidy up their kitchen, house and compound, use the fly proof latrine. So, they can prevent themselves from diseases. If beneficiaries face any health problem, project provided the health insurance by collecting the fund of their own. So they are cured properly by health staff.

Moreover, beneficiaries are motivated in village social welfare activities. They can manage the health problem for their families and could suggest to others. After hearing the news about this project, some villagers invite us to conduct our project in their villages.

Success Story

I would like to share one beneficiary’s success story with you. She and her husband were casual workers.

Her family was very poor before joining this program. When the program was introduced at her village, she tried to join it to borrow money. However, other beneficiaries did not accept her as a member since they were afraid of taking her responsibility if she could not repay the loan installment. Project staff succeeded to facilitate and convince other beneficiaries, and she became a program member. Since then, she has worked hard, bred a pig with project loan, and repaid the loan installment by fetching and selling the water. Now, her business is getting profitable one by selling various items such as ropes for farming, and now she could own even a cow by herself. Other members trust her because of her spirit and hard-working.

Our program succeeded to improve the social network among community members as well as her livelihood.

Thanks to YOU

I am delightful to have an opportunity to utilize your supports for economically unprivleged beneficiaries. If we had no fund from you, we could not conduct this Program. If we had no support from you, I couldn’t see the benefits of our beneficiaries.

I respectfully send this love letter especially for you, who support our program with kind heart.

 

Indonesia

Project Coordinator, AMDA-MINDS INDONESIA
Yadi Suryadi

Our Project, Our MINDS, and My Dream

Our project, “The Project for Improvement of Dairy Skills,” has been operating in the west Sinjai District, Sinjai Regency of South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia since February 2013. Target villages are located at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level, and the relatively-cool weather enables local government to introduce animal husbandry as one of the poverty alleviation policies for poor farmers.

The Project aims to improve the capacity of dairy production techniques among dairy farmers and local government staff, especially in the field of estrus detection, disease prevention and nutrition control of dairy cows. Consequently, we also hope to increase the number of dairy cows and milk production in the near future.

As shown in the picture, Japanese veterinarian expert Dr. Terushi NAKANO, despite being under the scorching sun, strenuously teaches the techniques necessary for handling the sudden paralysis of a cow, which is often seen in Sinjai Regency. In this case, Dr. NAKANO extemporarily built the necessary system only with 3 sticks and some plastic rope in order to make the pulley operate smoothly, help the cow stand, and then solved the problem. It is particularly worth noting that Japanese experts always teach dairy farmers how to handle troubled cows by using, not sophisticated machinery, but the makeshift tools and materials which are locally available. Such new and useful techniques always surprise dairy farmers. Whenever they learn such simple but great techniques from Japanese experts and sense their sincere dedication, the dairy farmers are always motivated.

Sinjai local government and dairy farmers are very enthusiastic about this project. Since our MINDS are already united towards the common goal of “High milkproduction and improvement of dairy farmers’ quality of life”, the Project has been going ahead with good collaboration and coordination among us. However, the project’s activities can not solve all the problems that occur in the overall dairy farm in Sinjai Regency. For example, marketing for the milk product must be well thought out in order to achieve high milk production. In this regard, our challenge has just started and we are groping our way forward step by step.

I have a dream to introduce a model Agro-Tourism in Sinjai Regency. I believe it is the ultimate goal of all parties in terms of the successful and sustainable development of a dairy farm in Sinjai. Interaction between the tourists and dairy farmers would affect the change of farmers’ mindset positively, and development of surrounding areas may impact micro-economic improvement. It may not be easy to make it happen, but that does not mean it is an unattainable goal. I strongly believe it is achievable through the involvement of all stakeholders such as local government, line departments (agriculture, tourism, forestry, trade and industry, and animal husbandry), villagers and supporters like AMDA-MINDS and its donors.

I am very glad to be a part of such a significant project since I can acquire greater experience, knowledge and skill. Also, I strongly believe that this project would greatly impact local gvernment policy and many people’s health and lives, especially the children who will create a poweful and intelligent society in next generation.

On behalf of AMDA-MINDS Indonesia Office, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to donors and well-wishers who enable us to provide humanitarian support to poor farmers here. Your continuous support is great help for them.