It’s Mother and Child Health Week in Madagascar. Twice a year, in April and October, this campaign helps mothers and children catch up with their vaccination, get Vitamin A, deworming and preventive malarial treatment for pregnant women. A visit to local health centers in Miarinarivo and Soavinandriana gave us an idea of how things were being carried out.

Most of the mothers queing up for vaccination or other treatments are young and the babies in their arms are not their first! A 19 year-old mother with her third child, next to a 26 year-old mother with her fourth… Family planning seems to be something that they think of once they reach the desired number of children, which can be anywhere from 5 to 15! “Yuki, you’re very much behind!” Oh yes, I have a few kids to catch up…