Essential health centers revived in Madagascar

Cyclones Batsirai and Emnati hit the southern Ikongo district within two weeks of each other in February 2022, tearing through communities and leaving an aftermath of destruction. Hundreds of schools were totally destroyed and hundreds more lost their roofs. Bridges collapsed, landslides cut off roads, fields were silted over and swathes of crops and trees were destroyed. Thousands of already poor families were left homeless and without any food reserves. Whilst we have helped thousands, the plight of the wider population is worsening in part due to the lack of basic health services after many health centres were destroyed in the cyclones. 

The municipality of Ankarimbelo, on the eastern edge of the rainforest, suffered the highest death rates during the cyclones and its two main health centres were devastated. After the cyclones last year, Ankarimbelo Hospital was reduced to one leaking room where newborn babies and mothers were crammed in with sufferers of infectious diseases. Over the past few months we have rebuilt the hospital in Ankarimbelo and the health centre in Faliarivo - not an easy feat with most of the construction materials brought in by foot through the forest. Now over 28,000 people have access to improved health services. Here’s how you can help.