Providing Basic Medical Care
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Mercy Ministries is based in Tamatave, on Madagascar’s east coast. Their strategy is to establish small bush clinics to provide basic medical care in every village they visit.
In order to avoid complications and conflicts due to ethnical differences, people from the individual villages are trained as medical staff. This basic medical training usually takes place in Tamatave, although the instructors sometimes also travel or fly to the villages instead. Afterwards, cement and other good-quality construction materials for the bush clinic are brought to the village. The helicopter's true strength is revealed when it comes to transporting building materials.
In most cases, the bush clinic is the sturdiest and most stable building in the village, offering protection when cyclones sweep through the area. As many people as possible squeeze into the building at such times. The equipment as well as the first supply of medicines are provided to the clinic free of charge. After that, the patients are expected to purchase the medicine themselves, so that the bush clinic can become self-supporting. So far, around 300 villages have been reached.
After receiving help for their bodies and souls, the villagers showed their gratitude with gifts of home-grown fruit, ducks and other local delicacies.
Ernst, Pilot
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