Antsiranana, Madagascar Jan 5-9, 2020
Early Sunday morning, a team of 17 volunteers arrived for MMFC’s first mission to Madagascar. The whole team got right to work unpacking the 16 bags of medical supplies, setting up the operating rooms, and beginning to screen patients. During the 5 day mission, over 90 patients were evaluated and 31 surgeries were performed, including 7 thyroid lobectomies, neck tumors including a possible unusual giant cystic parathyroid and others. The team also collaborated with the local surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, fellows and students. We taught the local ENT fellow and attendings and most cases had a local person scrub with our teams. Both groups were able to learn from each other and enjoyed sharing techniques, experiences, and stories.
Members of both teams expressed gratitude for the experience and the patients helped through the life-changing surgeries during a concluding banquet at the end of the week, enjoying the Malagasy cuisine. We are particularly grateful to Professor Hery Rakotoarisoa, our local ENT host who helped prepare everything and the staff of the Polyclinique Universitaire NEXT in Antsiranana who were wonderful! We look forward to returning to Madagascar to continue our teaching, our charitable work and relationships with the local doctors and community!
