Resumption. Interrupted since 2023, corneal transplant surgery has resumed in Madagascar. About twenty patients suffering from corneal pathologies are currently undergoing this procedure at the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital (CHUJRA) in Antananarivo. This resumption allows patients who would otherwise have required medical evacuation to hope for restored vision within Madagascar.
The campaign began on August 12 and will continue until next week. Ten patients are scheduled for surgery this week and ten more next week, with ages ranging from eight to 67. The procedures are performed by Malagasy doctors from the ophthalmology department of the hospital, led by Professor Léa Raobela. Each surgery lasts between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on the case.
According to a specialist, corneal pathologies can affect all ages and have diverse origins. In children, certain diseases can lead to corneal damage. In adults, complications may also arise following certain interventions, particularly after cataract surgery.
“The transplant concerns patients suffering from corneal trauma, keratoconus, or other chronic corneal diseases leading to corneal opacification,” the specialist notes. “When this part of the eye is severely damaged, the patient can gradually or completely lose their sight. The transplant then consists of replacing the diseased cornea with a healthy graft,” she continues.
Corneal transplantation has been practiced in Madagascar since 2012. However, after the last campaign in 2023, authorizations from the Ministry of Health were suspended until this 2026 resumption. According to an authorized source at CHUJRA, this interruption occurred in a context marked by growing concerns over organ trafficking and theft, particularly following cases related to the removal of eyes from children with albinism.
Demand remains high in Madagascar. In the absence of organ harvesting and donation capabilities within the country, patients currently have to wait for grafts to become available from an international eye bank or consider medical evacuation, a situation that severely limits access to this surgery.
For the 20 patients operated on during this campaign, this resumption represents a new chance to regain their sight after years of waiting. This campaign is conducted through a collaboration between the Hospices Civils de Lyon, the HCL Cell and Tissue Bank in France, the Association for Health and International Development, and the ophthalmology specialists at CHUJRA.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-14 10:38:41 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/sante-oculaire-la-greffe-de-cornee-reprend-au-chujra-avec-une-vingtaine-de-patients/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sante-oculaire-la-greffe-de-cornee-reprend-au-chujra-avec-une-vingtaine-de-patients