John Greaves recently delivered a fascinating and challenging talk updating the Kaleidoscope group on the work of Hoveraid:
Because so much of Madagascar cannot be reached by car, boat or aeroplane HoverAid uses hovercraft (hence the name) to conduct its relief work – reaching the unreachable.
We also learnt that…
- Madagascar is larger than California; its population of 29m is doubling every 15 years. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, as well as being stunningly beautiful. 90% of all its wildlife species are unique to the island
- 50% of the people suffer from malnutrition and the median age is 19
- 80% of the rainforests have been destroyed, mainly to enable subsistence farming
- HoverAid carries out emergency aid following frequent floods and cyclones, as well as supporting rebuilding of communities and provision of water wells and sanitation
- The regular medical clinics in remote areas use the latest mobile equipment and include surgical operations, dental, ophthalmic and other tests, and community health guidance
