Madagascar: MEDICAL CARAVAN – Rush to free healthcare in Toamasina

Early yesterday morning, long lines formed in front of the stands and mobile clinics of the event “Medical Caravan – Sarobidy ny aiko,” which took up residence in the city of Toamasina. The residents of the Atsinanana region rushed to take advantage of these free healthcare services. “My daughter suffers from menstrual problems. She has already been examined and treated at the hospital, but the problem persists. We are taking advantage of this opportunity to have a free consultation with a gynecologist,” says Germaine.

Others came to have their children vaccinated, for pregnancy preparations, for family planning, but also for general consultations, screenings for breast or cervical cancer, for consultations for high blood pressure, diabetes, as well as dental care and x-rays. Everything was free, from consultations to treatments.

Collaboration

The Ministry of Public Health estimates that twelve thousand people were attended to during this twenty-third edition of the medical caravan, and the fifth edition for International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8. “Five thousand people were attended to at the three other sites. As the regional capital and former provincial capital, we believe that the ten thousand beneficiaries in Toamasina will be far exceeded. We will not leave here until all the people in line are attended to,” said the Minister of Public Health, Professor Zely Randriamanantany.

This medical caravan has traveled through the East of Madagascar since March 2 and has reached four destinations, including Moramanga, Brickaville, Fénérive-Est, and Toamasina. It is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health, the Fitia association, and the World Health Organization, with the aim of bringing healthcare closer to the population.

Garry Fabrice Ranaivoson