A team of doctors flew to Mandritsara for a first-ever accreditation visit – a key milestone in strengthening surgical care in remote Madagascar, where access to specialist treatment remains extremely limited.
Story by Antsatiana Gino Randrianasolo
The Hopitaly Vaovao Mahafaly (HVMM), or ‘Good News Hospital’, is a long-time partner of MAF. From Mandritsara, they serve communities in this remote part of northern Madagascar.
Reaching the area by road can take days after the rainy season, with conditions worsening every year. By air, the journey takes less than 90 minutes from the capital, Antananarivo.
MAF regularly supports the hospital, flying in staff members and specialists and support teams who will otherwise struggle to reach the area, especially if they only have a short time available.
Today’s passengers are part of the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS), an organisation investing in the future of surgical care across Africa.
“Without the possibility of flying to Mandritsara, we would not have come,” said Keir Thelander, PAACS Executive Vice President. “Instead, we would have had to rely on an online check with the hospital, which is far from ideal. We simply could not afford the days of travel by road. We are truly thankful to MAF for getting us to the hospital so quickly.”
Without the possibility of flying to Mandritsara, we would not have come
Across Africa, PAACS runs surgical training programmes in 12 countries and 22 hospitals, equipping young Christian doctors through a five-year training process. In Madagascar, the programme is still young, but already growing.
“We train them to be the best possible surgeons, but also to be compassionate healers,” explained Dr Christopher Moir, PAACS Academic Dean.
According to the World Health Organisation, a country should have five or more surgeons per 100,000 people. Unfortunately, the reality is very different in Africa, especially in many sub-Saharan countries.
For Madagascar, the estimate is 0.3 surgeons per 100,000 people, which is barely 1 surgeon per 320,000 people.
This gap is not just a statistic. It shapes daily reality within the country, Keir explained.
“Lots of people who need surgery are either not getting it, or they’re getting it from someone who’s not trained,” he said.
PAACS programmes often begin with a need that is identified locally. Hospitals see the number of patients and the lack of surgeons, and they contact PAACS.
Lots of people who need surgery are either not getting it, or they’re getting it from someone who’s not trained
In Madagascar, HVMM saw that need. Ted Watts, the hospital’s head surgeon, together with Dr Marco Faniriko Bien Aimé, a PAACS graduate, helped bring the training programme to Madagascar, where it is now based at HVMM in Mandritsara.
Keir knows Dr Marco well.
“Dr Marco was an amazing human before he started PAACS. We just gave a little push and some tools for him to use to treat people.”
“I was training him in Gabon,” Keir said. “He then completed head and neck surgery in Cameroon and returned to Madagascar. Years ago, when Mercy Ships needed a specialist, they entrusted him with patients transferred to HVMM. This shows both his character and the quality of PAACS training.
We just gave a little push and some tools for him to use to treat people.
PAACS has partnered with Loma Linda University, United States, for nearly 25 years, conducting accreditation visits every five years to strengthen its training programmes. This visit marks the first-ever accreditation to HVMM, following a similar first visit in Burundi, as part of PAACS’ work across five of the world’s poorest countries to meet critical surgical needs and share the Gospel.
As Christopher put it, “In aviation terms, this is like a 100-hour inspection.”
The goal is long-term impact.
“99% of our graduates are still in Africa,” Keir added. “Not because they are required to stay, but because they are able to. A lot of times people leave because there aren’t opportunities. We’re providing an opportunity so they can stay.”