Life-Saving Health Programs in Madagascar
A surgical theater at Manamboro Hospital furnished with equipment provided by GHM.
Water is Life
In November, GHM’s Director of Operations, Scott Lien, and Co-Director of Consulting, Christine Lindell Detweiler, visited Madagascar to witness firsthand how your support is empowering the Hands that Heal. They were joined by GHM partner advocate Andry Ranaivoson, Dr. Lalao Ramiandrasoa, CEO of SALFA (The Health Department of the Malagasy Lutheran church), Agnes Rasamimampianina, GHM’s Madagascar Country Representative, and Dr. Josoa Ralaivao, Coordinator of SOFII, a program overseeing the integration of 52 rural clinics into an intentional community health network. Together, they visited multiple locations and projects made possible by your support.
“Water is life, water is health, we can wash, we have water to drink, we can give water to our animals”.
In Madagascar’s Androy region, prolonged drought has left communities without reliable access to clean water. Health clinics and families are struggling to meet basic needs as preventable illness and hunger continue to rise.
Your support is bringing life-giving water to the community of Androvosoa, an area long affected by drought and water scarcity.
Thanks to Seeds of Change and generous donors like you, a vital water and health project is underway. Your support is enabling the drilling of wells and boreholes, the installation of 5,000-liter water towers with solar-powered pumps, and the implementation of drip irrigation systems. When salty water is found, desalination equipment is installed to ensure safe, reliable access to clean water. Community members expressed their heartfelt gratitude for this project.
Thanks to your ongoing support, rural communities will now have easier access to safe, clean water, helping to reduce malnutrition and long, often dangerous treks for water. Not only does your support provide clean drinking water, it also empowers small-scale farmers to grow nutritious food and generate income by selling their produce. This is an example of how your support is a blessing multiplier: When families earn a sustainable income, they are able to support their households and invest in long-term needs such as healthcare and education.
Improving Health Through Community-Focused Education
At Ejeda Hospital, a mother and her newborn, who was born with feeding difficulties, receives care.
Your support for community-centered health education is crucial for improving health outcomes. Our team visited multiple communities to witness the impact of community health initiatives firsthand. In Ambohimahazo, Scott and Christine met students in the SEFAM Community Health Nursing Program, a three-year training that equips graduates to return to their home communities with essential healthcare skills. They also visited a training center where SEFAM nurses and midwives were enrolled in an additional six-month intensive public health program, earning advanced certification in community health and strengthening their ability to manage rural clinics and improve local health outcomes.
In the rural community of Farihemena, the team toured a newly constructed GHM-funded maternity ward and met with Community Health Workers to discuss local health challenges and their vital role in health education, family planning, and disease prevention.
Delivering Life-Saving Supplies and Technology Across Madagascar
In 2025, your support enabled four shipments of $1.6 million in medical supplies to reach 64 health facilities across Madagascar, equipping them to perform life-saving C-sections and other critical procedures. Your support also provided handheld Butterfly ultrasound devices, which is ideal for clinics with limited access to electricity.