Rosalinda, a young woman from Mananara in northern Madagascar, received free medical treatment on Monday, March 10, which transformed her life. The surgery, performed aboard a hospital ship, involved the removal of a mass in her submandibular gland that could have turned cancerous if left untreated. This intervention is part of a broader program aiming to perform up to 1,700 surgeries over the next ten months in the country.
DRC: Success in the first activation of the Global Health Emergency Corps
At 13, Rosalinda began to notice a growing lump in her neck, but due to a lack of resources for medical treatment, she had to live with the tumor for years. After losing her mother at the age of 10, she left school to help her father with his small clothing business. The tumor, which continued to grow, affected her health and self-esteem, leaving her with no choice but to try to live with the disease.
In 2024, after the death of her father, Rosalinda moved to Toamasina to live with her uncles, who informed her about the possibility of undergoing free surgery. When the medical team returned in February 2025, Rosalinda was evaluated and scheduled for surgery, which was successfully performed without complications. The procedure allowed her to regain her well-being and confidence after years of uncertainty.
This free healthcare initiative also includes 1,480 dental procedures and the training of local professionals, contributing to the strengthening of Madagascar’s healthcare system. The country’s authorities have emphasized the importance of providing access to free medical treatments for those in need, ensuring that more citizens can benefit from the care they require.
