Country Flag of Madagascar Map of Madagascar, Courtesy of WorldAtlas.com

Local time in Antananarivo:


Facts and Figures

arrow Official Name Republic of Madagascar.

arrow Capital City Antananarivo.

arrow Languages French (official), Malagasy (official).

arrow Official Currency Malagasy franc (MGF).

arrow Ethnic Groups Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran.

arrow Religions Indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%.

arrow Population 16,473,477 (July 2002 est.).

arrow Land Area 581,540 sq km (224,533 sq miles).

History

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002 the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner.

UNAIDS Epidemiological
Fact Sheets

[English] [French]

Global Surveillance of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a joint effort of WHO and UNAIDS. The UNAIDS/WHO Working Group on Global HIV/AIDS and STI Surveillance, initiated in November 1996, guides respective activities. The primary objective of the working group is to strengthen national, regional and global structures and networks for improved monitoring and surveillance of HIV/AIDS and STIs. For this purpose, the working group collaborates closely with national AIDS programmes and a number of national and international experts and institutions. The goal of this collaboration is to compile the best information available and to improve the quality of data needed for informed decision-making and planning at national, regional and global levels. The Epidemiological Fact Sheets are one of the products of this close and fruitful collaboration across the globe.

Web sites

U.S. Government Agencies

World Fact Book
The Factbook was created as an annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO).

US Department of State - Travel Advisory
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets.

Catholic Relief Service
The main goals of CRS/Madagascar's HIV/AIDS program are to limit the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, to support communities and individuals who are fighting against the disease, and to raise awareness of the fact that people affected by HIV and AIDS deserve compassion, not condemnation.

US Aid
Madagascar’s extremely high rates of sexually transmitted infections, along with limited access to health and social services and widespread poverty, provide ideal conditions for the rapid spread of HIV to the general population. Women’s low social and economic status, combined with their greater biological susceptibility to HIV, compounds their vulnerability to infection.

Aids Services Organizations
Madagascar is collaborating with other donors to support the development ofa comprehensive strategy to control HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The mission hascontributed to the development and nationwide adoption of syndromic treatment of STIs and is supporting focusedpreventive interventions that combine condom social marketing and BCC in high-prevalence areas, particularly major citiesand along transportation routes

Madagascar:

010403
Madagascar

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, iMetrikus, Inc., the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Map of Madagascar courtesy of WorldAtlas.Com. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

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