In Madagascar, where people can spend days walking to reach surgical care, MAF flies patient selection teams to hard-to-reach locations
A partnership between MAF and Mercy Ships is bringing hope to patients in Madagascar living long distances from the port where specialised surgical treatment is carried out while Mercy Ships’ hospital ship is based there.
Mercy Ships Director of Patient Selection, Ria Bos, said the road conditions on the island can make travel long and difficult, but MAF flights help the team travel to hard-to-reach locations far from Toamasina, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy is docked.
“In Madagascar, we're facing the challenges of the road network. It's not as strong as in some other countries; the roads are narrow, and we're facing many puddles and an uneven surface that shakes you for quite a few days on the road,” she said.
In Madagascar, we're facing the challenges of the road network
“For many of our patients who are selected to come to the ship, it is quite a scary experience for a lot of them because they've never left their community.”
One trip from the capital, Antananarivo, helped to reach the first field consultation location in Mahajanga in January, but the journey by road would have taken around 16 hours – costing the team precious time that could be spent assessing patients’ needs.
“We’re very thankful for the partnership with MAF. Being able to fly within hours to locations that would otherwise take three or four days on the road makes a huge difference. It allows us to be more efficient and, above all, adds safety to our team,” Ria said.
The team meets with patients, assesses them, and builds relationships, ensuring they understand what to expect before travelling to the hospital ship.
“We can't sail the ship in the country. But I think that's kind of where our organisations meet each other, because our patients are in the country. And so, for us, having the opportunity to fly to these more remote places, to these places that are hard to access, is really a blessing,” Ria added.
For Ria, flying with MAF is more than just convenience.
“My first experience flying with MAF was in 2014. It was amazing to see the country from the air, to see the remote villages where our patients live. When you’re on the road, you see them as you pass by, but flying over it, you realise even more how remote people live. When I hear stories of patients walking for days to meet us, it becomes so real. We are meeting some very brave patients,” she said.
you realise even more how remote people live
Mercy Ships’ volunteers, including nurses and surgeons from over 35 countries, arrive in Madagascar through Ivato International Airport in the capital, Antananarivo.
The ship, however, is docked in Toamasina, a challenging 13-hour road journey away.
“In Madagascar, the capital is in the middle of the country, but our ship is in Toamasina,” said Ria. “All our volunteer surgeons, doctors, and nurses arrive in Antananarivo. We can’t afford for them to be delayed because every moment of the time and skills they give Mercy Ships is invaluable to our patients. A smooth, quick journey means more surgeries can take place; more lives can be changed, and a medical team that arrives refreshed and ready to deliver the best possible care." Willianne Kramer, a Dutch nurse, shared her joy at travelling with the team.
“I have learnt about MAF since I was a child, so when I heard that we would be flying with them, I was very excited,” she said.
“It’s a blessing to be able to reach these communities, to meet these patients and their families, and to bring them hope.”