During the rainy season in Madagascar, healthcare access becomes a major issue, particularly for those living in remote areas. This is because the peak season for malaria coincides with the cyclone and rainy season, which lasts from October to May. In such circumstances, it is challenging for people to reach health centers due to heavy rainfall, making it difficult for both health workers and patients to travel.
Dr. Nantenaina, a medical doctor at the Intensive Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC) run by MSF, shares the difficulties faced during heavy rainfall. The roads become muddy and impassable, making it hard for patients to seek timely medical attention or be sent home for follow-up care. In areas like Ikongo where healthcare facilities are far from households, traveling to seek medical help can be arduous. Soanary, the mother of a 4-year-old boy with malnutrition and malaria shares her experience of walking four hours through water with her son on her back as his condition worsened to reach the nearest health center.
The combination of heavy rainfall and the malaria peak season creates significant challenges for accessing healthcare in Madagascar. It underscores the need for improved infrastructure and resources to ensure that all individuals, especially vulnerable populations like malnourished children, can receive timely medical care regardless of weather conditions.
In conclusion, during the rainy season in Madagascar accessing healthcare becomes a major issue due to heavy rainfall that makes it difficult for people to reach health centers. It highlights the importance of improving infrastructure and resources to ensure that all individuals can receive timely medical care regardless of their location or weather conditions.