Madagascar: Light rediscovered for two women

Toamasina, Madagascar, October 9, 2025 / On World Sight Day, celebrated under the theme “People at the Heart of Eye Health ,” the story of 80-year-old Marie Jeanne and her daughter Germaine illustrates the transformative impact of access to eye care. Originally from a remote village in Madagascar, these two women, plunged into darkness for years due to advanced cataracts, regained their sight thanks to a free operation aboard the Africa Mercy, the hospital ship of the NGO Mercy Ships.

For Marie Jeanne, blindness had worsened a life already marked by the loss of seven of her eight children . Her only comfort lay in weaving mats and raffia hats , an activity she had not been able to practice for three years. Her daughter Germaine, also affected by cataracts, could no longer cultivate the land or care for her children. "Without faith, I could have given up ," she confided, recalling years of despair.

Their hope was rekindled when a relative heard about Mercy Ships on the radio. After traveling to Toamasina , mother and daughter received free surgery the same day they arrived. “Their cataracts were so advanced that their pupils were no longer black, but white ,” explains Dr. Guy Chevalley , their surgeon. “They could only see movement, like a hand waving in front of their eyes ,” says Ella Hawthorne , head of the ophthalmology program.

The next morning, the bandages were removed. For the first time in years, Marie Jeanne and Germaine saw each other clearly . “We no longer live in darkness. Our eyes see, and our hearts overflow with happiness!” Marie Jeanne exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. “It was very moving to see their joy ,” Ella Hawthorne said. “To see someone, then lose them, and then find them again… it’s incredible.”

Today, Marie Jeanne has resumed her craft , once again weaving mats and hats with dexterity. Germaine, for her part, is once again cultivating her fields, actively participating in the life of her village and taking care of her children.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , 2.2 billion people suffer from vision impairment or blindness, of which 1 billion cases could be prevented or treated. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness , particularly in low-income countries, where access to eye care is limited. "The lack of accessible services and trained specialists leads to unnecessary suffering ," Mercy Ships emphasizes.

Since 1978, Mercy Ships has been deploying hospital ships to provide free care to the most vulnerable populations. The Africa Mercy , docked in Toamasina, continues to give hope to thousands of Malagasy people, like Marie Jeanne and Germaine.