In a country where preventable diseases are the leading cause of child mortality, local paramedics like Hantamalala Ramanandraibe are a crucial link in the effort to vaccinate children and reduce mortality. Because of its remoteness, Hantamalala runs a clinic on her village’s market days, when many of the nearly 4,600 people the clinic serves come for vaccinations, contraception, and other services. In Madagascar, receiving the necessary vaccinations can reduce childhood mortality by 25%, but the remoteness of many villages and lack of healthcare workers often makes administering these vaccines challenging. Despite the additional difficulties posed by required refrigeration and unpaved roads, Madagascar has managed to reduce childhood mortality by 60% in the past two decades. According to Hantamalala, the hope for a healthier and better life for children who are vaccinated is “worth every challenge.”
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