Reproductive and Public Health Charity

100% Women-Run

Empowering communities for a brighter future

STORY

Hygeia Medical Charity was founded in December 2022 in Madagascar by Dr. Ali, a French/American doctor who grew up in the country. Inspired by her roots and driven by the desire to give back to her community, Dr. Ali assembled an all-female team of medical professionals and staff to help provide free healthcare services and empower vulnerable communities.

The Hygeia Medical Charity's mission is to provide the highest quality healthcare services and education to people in need for free, with a special emphasis on women's health. They believe that women are critical to the economic growth of any country and are uniquely positioned to drive positive change in society.

Hygeia Medical Charity began with just two small consultation rooms in Antanimena. through the generosity of GDS' unused office space. The space is open to all without discrimination, and has a special focus on underserved communities and vulnerable populations.

The all-female team is dedicated to empowering women and promoting gender equity, recognizing that women are often the primary caregivers in their families in Africa. By empowering women to take on leadership roles in the organization, Hygeia Medical is helping to build a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system in Madagascar.

The community is united by a common goal: to create positive change in Madagascar and provide hope for a better future.

Hygeia Medical Charity hopes to be an example of what can be achieved when women are empowered to lead and make a difference!

TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

Dr Aliya Ali (she/her)

Founder & President

Dr Aliya Ali was raised in Madagascar and attended the Lycée Français de Tananarive until the age of 17. She then moved to Ithaca, New York, to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Business at Cornell University, where she was deeply inspired by the institution's motto of "Any Person, Any Study." During her time at Cornell, she was in awe of the passion of students from different backgrounds and the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Dr Ali continued her education with a Master's degree in Global Health Implementation at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. During her time there, she developed a keen interest in addressing social determinants of health, particularly in low-income countries. Her thesis focused on cultural barriers to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in Tanzania, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive healthcare policies.

Dr Aliya Ali's passion for healthcare continued to flourish, and she went on to earn a medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Her fascination with anatomy and public health led her to explore ways to improve maternal health outcomes, and she participated in a group project focused on mitigating postpartum complications in Somalia.

Dr Ali recognizes the privilege that allowed her to pursue her education and career goals. She feels a deep sense of responsibility to give back to her community in Madagascar, which led her to create the non-profit Hygeia Medical. As a social entrepreneur, she founded Hygeia Medical to address the critical gap in healthcare delivery in Madagascar, a country that faces significant challenges in terms of access to quality healthcare services.

Dr Aliya Ali's commitment to making a positive impact in healthcare is rooted in Cornell University's motto of "To Do the Greatest Good." She carries this philosophy with her in her work, and her dedication to addressing social determinants of health is a testament to her belief in the importance of serving others.

Tina NAMBININTSOA (she/her)

Chief Nurse

Tina Solomalala Edmondine Nambinintsoa is an experienced nurse who specializes in emergency and disaster management. Her fascination with emergency management began during her training as a general nurse at IFSPR Mahamasina, where she was impressed by the ability of her mentors to manage crises. In fact, her end-of-study dissertation focused on nursing care at the Emergency Crash Center of the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital.

After earning her Bachelor's degree in 2016, Madame Nambinintsoa began working as a nurse in various healthcare facilities in Antananarivo. Her passion for her work is evident, as she notes, "My job is my passion, I can hardly see myself doing anything other than taking care of patients and ensuring their well-being."

Madame Nambinintsoa's desire to further her knowledge in intensive care and emergency department patient management motivated her to pursue a Master's degree in Emergency and Disaster Management. She successfully competed in the INSPC competition and obtained her degree in 2022. With her extensive experience in humanitarian aid, social action, and the medico-social sector, she decided to join Hygeia Medical to share her expertise.

Her aspirations go beyond her current accomplishments, as she hopes to defend a doctoral thesis in the future. She is driven by the desire to fulfill her father's long-standing dream of obtaining a doctorate, which he was unable to achieve due to financial constraints. By accomplishing this goal, she will succeed where her father could not and make him proud.

Voahangy RANAIVO (she/her)

Board Member

Voahangy Ranaivo is a remarkable individual who has made a significant impact in her community. Born and raised in Madagascar, she obtained her baccalaureate in 1987 before enrolling in the University of Antananarivo/Faculty of Law. After getting married, she took a break from her studies and dedicated her time to caring for her children. During this time, she developed a strong passion for advocating children's rights.

In 1996, Voahangy embarked on training in commerce and computer science, determined to secure employment. She started as a store manager and quickly moved up the ranks to become the Manager of all Operations at GDS, a distribution company. She has always had a keen eye for charity work and, as a manager, she oversaw all of GDS's charitable endeavors, including the logistics management.

Voahangy is a self-taught individual who thrives on challenges and constantly seeks new opportunities. In addition to her professional work, she has been an active participant in various extracurricular activities. She has been teaching children at her church since 2003, and in 2006, she joined a rural association that promotes environmental protection and takes care of jatropha crops. For several years, she has been actively promoting small-scale rice cultivation.

Voahangy's generosity knows no bounds, and she has made it her life's mission to help others. Raised in a family that values giving back to society, she has always gone above and beyond in her charitable efforts. Every year, she sponsors the education of five children, providing them with school supplies, general expenses, school bags, shoes, and aprons. She is a true inspiration to us all.

Voahangy is grateful to be part of the Hygeia Medical Charity, and she feels privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to the provision of free health care to those in need. Her kindness and dedication to serving others are truly remarkable, and we are honored to have her on our board.

Nadine MAC (she/her)

Board Member

We are delighted to introduce Nadine, a valued member of our board. Nadine was born and raised in Manakara, where she developed a deep passion for helping others. Even during her early years, she generously contributed to a special education center (SEC), providing snacks and educational games from her parents' grocery store. She continues to support the center to this day.

Nadine's dedication to serving her community continued throughout her life. While studying in Antananarivo in 1997, she became a member of the CCYA (Chinese Catholic Youth Association), where she volunteered to give free lessons to students every Saturday and perform Chinese wedding choirs for the Sisters of Antohomadinika.

Although Nadine pursued architecture, interior design, and watercolor drawing after obtaining her Baccalaureate, she was unable to complete her studies due to an opportunity to travel to France on behalf of the CCYA. Upon returning, she changed her course of study to International Trade and embarked on a study trip to Japan and Singapore.

While pursuing odd jobs to earn some extra money, Nadine discovered her talent for sewing and launched her own small workshop. In 2003, she started working at VIVA DESIGN, a ready-to-wear boutique, and continued to run her workshop on the side until 2015.

In 2012, Nadine got married and founded the daddycool Club and the HASINA Association with her husband. As the president of the charity association, she works closely with Compassions Madagascar to provide meals for impoverished children and specialized care for sick children at the Ambohimiandra and Befelatanana hospitals.

Today, Nadine is still working in the ready-to-wear industry at the luxurious L'Addresse boutique in the La City Ivandry center. We are honored to have Nadine on our board and grateful for her unwavering commitment to serving others.

Volana RASAMIHARIMALALA (she/her)

Chief midwife

Volana Rasamiharimalala is a midwife graduated from the Private Institute of Paramedics (ISPARAMED) in Itaosy, driven by a strong ambition to make a difference in healthcare. Although her initial dream of becoming a doctor did not come to fruition, she adeptly redirected her path towards a critical issue for Madagascar: peripartum cardiomyopathy in pregnant women. This topic was the focus of her thesis, which won the Best Thesis Award in 2023.

After earning her midwifery degree, Volana dedicated herself to serving the community through home care, including dressings and injections, emergency assistance, and aiding in deliveries. Simultaneously, she teaches life sciences and health at Collège Trésor des Petits, using her scientific background to inspire young minds.

Her ambition is to establish a delivery clinic in Ampitatafika, a rural area lacking healthcare facilities, with hopes of evolving it into a full clinic and pursuing a specialization in obstetric ultrasound at INSPC. She also plans to further her studies abroad to enhance her skills and make her parents proud. For Volana, education is the most powerful tool to change the world.

In April 2024, Volana joined Hygeia Medical where she dedicates her passion and commitment to serving vulnerable individuals. Through this opportunity, she continues to fulfill her insatiable desire to learn and serve her community.