Health, Well-Being and the Environment

“Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” World Health Organization, 1948

“…climate change is having a major effect on all aspects of the environment, as well as on the health and well-being of the global population.” UN News, March 10, 2020

Health and well-being

From traditional healing to modern approach of medicine Madagascar is rich in medicinal plants that needs to be seriously considered and thoroughly studied. Eighty percent of the Malagasy people use them since they are affordable, easy to access and to prepare.

The Environment

The natural resource of the land should be defended, and primarily should benefit its people. Any decision to be taken in that regard should always be in consultation with the local people.

The impact of climate change

The debate is still on among scientists but it is evident in Madagascar that human activities are harming the nature.

Deforestation in Madagascar

“Tavy” or slash-and-burn agriculture are causing damage to its eco-system.

1. Following the old agricultural method of burning down trees and irrigating with rainfall, farmers still cultivate rice on hillsides, with a consequence of more eroded farmlands. To support the ever growing rural population, large numbers of peasants need to seek new lands to cultivate, notably in the forests (Myers 1988, Conservation International 2009).

2. Enormous forest areas of Madagascar are threatened by flames annually, from uncontrolled wildfires and lands burned for grazing. It’s these fires that burn large portions of forests. Although it is difficult to get precise statistics, the FAO estimates 33,000 hectare of forest and 839,000 hectare of other wooded land was disturbed by fire in 2000 (FAO 2006; Conversation International 2007; source: NASA Land-Cover and Land-Use Change (LCLUC))

Our vision of a healthy community and its relationship with the land

Spiritually, Zanahary, God the creator gave us the land as a blessing. We received the title to use it. Our duty is to respect, cherish and be good steward of that gift. If we take care of the land, it knows how to give that back to us.

What we can do

We think formal and informal education will have a major role in that. Through the media, we are also aiming to raise awareness of that crucial need.

What has been done so far ?

Let’s talk about IMRA

IMRA is a medical and research center, one of the pioneers of sustainable development in Madagascar.

The research done by IMRA on local medicinal plants made treatments affordable for the Malagasy population.

Pr. Ratsimamanga was among the first Malagasy scientist to unveil the secret of the “ody gasy“, secretly kept and protected by the traditional healer (ombiasy)