Marie Stopes Madagascar builds the capacity of providers within the network to deliver high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, focused on long-term family planning methods. Franchises are located in peri-urban and rural areas. The 104 clinics, which are located in 7 out of 22 regions of the nation, are comprised of 1 doctor per clinic at the time being. Community Health Workers also play an integral part in developing informed demand within the community by doing interpersonal communication through household visits and small-group sensitization.
A voucher project was launched in the final quarter of 2010. The voucher covers counseling on all FP methods, comprehensive FP options and STI counseling and screening. Currently, 42 BlueStar franchisees in two provinces are testing a new Integrated SMS System, which, among other functions, facilitates voucher verification and payment.
BlueStar Madagascar currently faces challenges in finding private doctors in rural and peri-urban zones, as there are fewer than 700 accredited doctors nationwide. And given the wide geographic area of coverage, to achieve national impact, it also faces troubles in monitoring and evaluating teams. But on the positive end, the efforts of the organization have been fortified by the strong public and private partnership (Ministry of Health, National Board of Directors) that has been successfully established.