Andzaha Health

The Hospitaller Order of Saint Gabriel has been supporting “Andzaha Santé” since 2014, a humanitarian association that manages a Mother/Child Solidarity Health Center in Madagascar on the island of Sainte-Marie. The objective of this Health Center is to strengthen the few existing healthcare structures in order to provide quality care to the 27,000 inhabitants of the island.     This project is necessary because the inhabitants of Sainte-Marie are too far from the capital to hope to access the meager subsidies from the Malagasy government, and too small to attract large NGOs. Only private initiatives like Andzaha Santé, in partnership with the Hospitaller Order of Saint Gabriel, can help them overcome isolation.           [sp_wpcarousel id=”607″]   Thanks to this equipment, the association was able to conduct a screening and training campaign in the most remote parts of Sainte-Marie Island in collaboration with the organization Gynécologie Sans Frontière (GSF). All of this was made possible thanks to the Hospitaller Order of Saint Gabriel, which has been actively supporting Andzaha since the beginning of the project. In 2015, €10,000 were granted by the Order to cover the purchase of an ultrasound machine and an electrocardiograph, as well as the outfitting of the field ambulance. Thanks to these donations, the Andzaha clinic is gradually acquiring the resources of a modern small clinic. The results of all these efforts are simply extraordinary: hundreds of women and their children receive care each year at the Health Center, and medical monitoring of pregnant women and their babies has become a reality on the island. They no longer have to cross the Sainte-Marie channel by boat – where fatal accidents occur every year – to reach the main island, which provides the poorest population with safety, convenience, and quality care. Certainly, there is still progress to be made, but the association has learned from past experiences to deliver services that are practical and focused on the real needs of the island. In 2016, the association will create solidarity micro-enterprises based on the principle of social entrepreneurship, where economic activities will finance humanitarian and social actions to ensure sustainability. Regarding this particular and innovative approach, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint Gabriel, SEM Roland de Boutechoux de Chavanes, recently met with President Gérard Hoareau to develop a joint action strategy. The Order’s funding decisions for 2016 will be examined with Ambassador Jürg Staübli, Constable of the Order of Saint Gabriel and President of the Order’s Donation Commission, as part of the 2016/2017 aid budget. The Order of Saint Gabriel will make every effort to provide Andzaha Santé with the necessary support for its success. Photos  

The Hospitaller Order of Saint Gabriel has been supporting “Andzaha Santé” since 2014, a humanitarian association that manages a Mother/Child Solidarity Health Center in Madagascar on the island of Sainte-Marie. The objective of this Health Center is to strengthen the few existing healthcare structures in order to provide quality care to the 27,000 inhabitants of the island.     This project is necessary because the inhabitants of Sainte-Marie are too far from the capital to hope to access the meager subsidies from the Malagasy government and too small to attract large NGOs. Only private initiatives like Andzaha Santé, in partnership with the Hospitaller Order of Saint Gabriel, can help them overcome isolation.           [sp_wpcarousel id=”607″]   Thanks to this equipment, the association was able to conduct a screening and training campaign in the most remote parts of Sainte-Marie Island in collaboration with the organization Gynécologie Sans Frontière (GSF). All of this was made possible thanks to the Hospitaller Order of Saint Gabriel, which has been actively supporting Andzaha since the beginning of the project. In 2015, €10,000 were granted by the Order to cover the purchase of an ultrasound machine and an electrocardiograph, as well as the outfitting of the field ambulance. Thanks to these donations, the Andzaha clinic is gradually acquiring the resources of a modern small clinic. The results of all these efforts are simply extraordinary: hundreds of women and their children receive care each year at the Health Center, and medical monitoring of pregnant women and their babies has become a reality on the island. They no longer have to cross the Sainte-Marie channel by boat – where fatal accidents occur every year – to reach the main island, which provides the poorest population with safety, convenience, and quality care. Certainly, there is still progress to be made, but the association has learned from past experiences to deliver services that are practical and focused on the real needs of the island. In 2016, the association will create solidarity micro-enterprises based on the principle of social entrepreneurship, where economic activities will finance humanitarian and social actions to ensure sustainability. Regarding this particular and innovative approach, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint Gabriel, SEM Roland de Boutechoux de Chavanes, recently met with President Gérard Hoareau to develop a joint action strategy. The Order’s funding decisions for 2016 will be examined with Ambassador Jürg Staübli, Constable of the Order of Saint Gabriel and President of the Order’s Donation Commission, as part of the 2016/2017 aid budget. The Order of Saint Gabriel will make every effort to provide Andzaha Santé with the necessary support for its success. Photos  

Partnership Protocol of the ORDER OF SAINT GABRIEL Within the framework of a 4-year partnership protocol, the Order of Saint Gabriel ensures, through its International Association of the Hospital Works of Saint Gabriel, the financing of: the purchase of a medicalized 4×4 vehicle for consultation tours in remote villages on the island; the installation of an operating room for small obstetric surgeries; the creation of a drinking water production station. The Order of Saint Gabriel undertakes significant charitable actions, thanks to the commitment of the Order’s Hospitaller Knights, who contribute to the development of hospital structures in Africa, South America, and also in Europe. The goal of the Order is to promote peace and human development worldwide. The Andzaha Maternity Clinic Andzaha Santé is an innovative humanitarian project aimed at opening a Mother/Child Solidarity Health Center on the island of Sainte-Marie in Madagascar, self-financed by social and solidarity enterprises. The objective of this Health Center is to strengthen the few existing healthcare structures to provide quality care to the 27,000 inhabitants of the island. Initially, it will focus on Mother and Child care (family planning awareness, prenatal consultations and pregnancy monitoring, diagnosis and management of high-risk pregnancies, pediatric care…), but later it will aim to treat many currently untreated pathologies. To fund the operation of this Health Center and provide almost free care to this population, several micro-enterprises will be created (material transport, web café, discovery taxi…), with part of the profits reinvested into the Health Center. This project fully aligns with the Public Health policy of the Malagasy government. Additionally, the Andzaha association has been recognized as being of public interest by both the Malagasy and French governments. A necessary, realistic, exemplary project… Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the Human Development Index (HDI), Madagascar is ranked 150th out of 177 countries. The HDI measures a country’s average level according to three essential development criteria: Insufficient medical infrastructure: severe lack of medical and paramedical personnel, insufficient training, often ineffective care, dilapidated equipment, high mortality rates… Lack of employment opportunities on the island Large deficits in education and professional training Medical Team: Emilien Colas (General Practitioner, Head of the Health Center) Patrick Tubiana (Gynecologist-Obstetrician) Maud Wary (Pediatric Nurse) Emilien COLAS: Head of the Health Center Charlotte BOTORONONO: Administrative Manager Marie Djene DIAKITE: Nurse Rarison DIDI François ELYSEE Désiré JACQUES Désire TAMBIRA Support Testimonials The Order of Saint Gabriel, represented by Grand Master Roland de Boutechoux de Chavanes, met Gérard Hoareau, founder of Andzaha Santé, three years ago and committed to supporting him, impressed by their responsible approach to the project, which ensures its sustainability through contributions to the creation of micro-enterprises. “Indeed, donations are welcome, but those receiving aid must also demonstrate that they deserve it by committing to sustain what anonymous men and women, through their generosity, commitment, and dedication, provide without expecting anything in return. It is also this sense of responsibility, clearly stated, that impressed me.” The Donation Allocation Committee, led by the Constable of the Order, Ambassador Jürg Stäubli, recently signed a 4-year partnership protocol with Dr. Guy-Daniel Koechlin, President of Andzaha Santé, which will take effect in the first half of 2015. This first phase amounts to €40,000. Funding will be provided by the International Association of the Hospital Works of Saint Gabriel, headquartered in Lyons, France. The Christian values that guide me are the driving force behind my empathy for those who suffer or are in precarious situations. These values, which in the Middle Ages led to the creation of the first hospitals in Europe, are also the foundation of the Andzaha project, which led me to commit further to this great challenge and accept to become its president. This challenge is immense but exhilarating for me! A particular aspect of Andzaha Santé’s vision also motivates me: far from traditional welfare, it includes a true development and autonomy component through the creation of solidarity micro-enterprises. This is why, in 2012, I sponsored it with the Foundation of my employer, Orange, which, sensitive to women and young children’s care, later became a financial partner for the clinic’s development. Aware of the immense challenge this project represents for the population of Sainte-Marie Island, I wish to continue the rigor and seriousness that characterized François Gitton, whose position I now hold, and his Board of Directors, to whom I also pay tribute. The Andzaha Project initiative is exemplary and deserves support. My motivation is to share my technical and managerial experience to make this self-financed clinic a pilot and model in humanitarian intervention. The project’s objectives align with my professional ambitions, and as a native of the island, it is a privilege and a pleasure to participate in improving the health of Sainte-Marie residents and contribute to achieving the MDGs. Three Main Reasons for My Commitment It is a necessary project because the inhabitants of Sainte-Marie are too far from the capital to hope for the scarce government subsidies; they are too small to attract large NGOs; only private initiatives like ours can help them break the vicious cycle of poverty and hardship. It is a realistic project because it is led by a small, highly competent and motivated team—doctors, entrepreneurs, executives—and implements the principles of social entrepreneurship where economic activities fund humanitarian and social actions to ensure sustainability. It is an exemplary project because it illustrates a novel and replicable development model, based on social entrepreneurship, to break the vicious cycle of poverty and isolation. Furthermore, the more I work with this team, the more I realize the power that a small group of determined people, driven by the same will, can represent. I congratulate ANDZAHA Santé for the initiative taken in favor of mother and child. During my term as Mayor, it was my “battle horse” given the precariousness of many families. Thanks to support from various organizations in France and Réunion, I had created a milk distribution network for infants whose mothers delivered at the maternity ward.

At the end of March, little Asmeralda was born in our maternity ward. She unfortunately has a congenital malformation: syndactyly (the fingers of both hands are partially stuck together). Surgery will be necessary to restore normal use of her fingers. This procedure can be performed at the age of one. Our association made the financial decision because her parents cannot afford it. This is a concrete example of our work and motivates us even more. This month, we performed a total of 586 medical procedures. The month of April also saw the number of Covid cases explode in Madagascar, which is facing a second wave much more severe than the first. Our Health Center was not immune to this epidemic; several members of our staff were affected; fortunately, all cases were mild. Today everyone is back on their feet and doing well.