Our Projects in Madagascar
Strengthening the Training of Local Medical Staff in Rural Areas
A more structured training of medical staff in rural areas (hospitals, Basic Health Centers), including doctors, midwives, and nurses, as well as providing health and hygiene information to the population seeking consultations, appear to be priorities. Training sessions have been prepared and will be conducted starting from the next mission, providing an opportunity for collaboration with local doctors.
Increasing Missions and Expanding Intervention Areas
By acquiring surgical equipment (operating microscope) specially packaged for bush flights, we are now able to conduct multi-site missions upon request from regional and local authorities.
We also aim to increase the number of annual missions to 6-8 per year, due to numerous requests.
Fighting Malnutrition
The sustainable management of chronic malnutrition, which can lead to and exacerbate acute malnutrition, particularly in regions affected by Kéré (famine), seems to justify a joint medical approach with screening of malnourished populations by specialized NGOs to improve vital prognosis and future outcomes, especially for pregnant women and young children.
Developing School Screening
Medicaéro wishes to develop school screening in Madagascar to identify physical, mental, or sensory disorders early on that could hinder students’ education, in order to offer them better future prospects, thus promoting their educational success and social integration.
Photo: ABC Domino
Supporting the Creation of a Hospital Plane with Aviation Without Borders
As a specialist in “air medicine,” Medicaéro is working alongside Aviation Without Borders to design and build a hospital plane, which would be a tremendous asset for all NGOs present in remote areas.
This bush hospital plane could take the form of a twin-turboprop, capable of carrying passengers and/or freight up to 3 tons in containerized kits. It would also allow for surgical operations adapted to the terrain thanks to mobile operating rooms, which would give an extraordinary boost to bush medicine.
Providing Access to Water
After successfully completing an initial water access program for a healthcare center in an isolated area, we wish to develop other projects for the populations of the Great South, such as renovating or constructing wells in the Ampanihy region. These projects will be carried out in coordination with local authorities, in partnership with specialists from the VOZAMA association and with financial support from Medicaéro donors.
Providing Access to Secure and Renewable Energy
Wherever cooking is still done over wood fires, the risks of fire and severe burns are ever-present. Young children, who play near the hearth while women prepare meals, are often the first victims of this ancestral practice. To protect them, it is imperative to replace fire with electricity by installing solar panels as soon as possible. This is why we also wish to act preventively by working with committed photovoltaic installers.
And Moving Forward...
Ultimately, Medicaéro’s support aims to enable the complete appropriation of knowledge to bring total autonomy to Malagasy doctors, in collaboration with local authorities. Our goal is not to establish ourselves permanently in Madagascar, but rather to support the population so that they can take charge of their future.
