Dr Adrien speaking on 1 February 1995
1st February 1995 was the official opening date of Clinique Vaovao Mahafaly, the Good News Clinic. At that time the first phase of the hospital buildings was being built, but the building company were taking much longer than originally planned. The little team of Drs Adrien and David, nurses Ann and Beatrice and lab technician Annie were all ready to start work. So it was decided to rent a house overlooking the airstrip in Mandritsara and hold outpatient consultations there. The house had 6 rooms – 2 consulting rooms, a waiting room, laboratory room and nurses’ room. Julien (now Pastor Julien) stayed in the 6th room and acted as watchman as well as helping in the clinic.
Dr Adrien preaching in the Clinic waiting room 1995
1st February was the official opening day, attended by the local medical and civil authorities. 2nd February was the day the first patients were seen. From the first, the aim of the work was to proclaim the gospel of Jesus, so each morning started, as it still does today, with a short gospel service. On the first day, no patients had arrived when it was time to start, but we held the gospel service anyway – and also prayed for patients to come! They trickled in on that first day, but within a week or two the trickle had become a deluge!
Each of the missionaries and Dr Adrien had a Malagasy assistant – who also acted as interpreter.
Mme Marline and Mme Berthine Jan 2020
Julien helped David. Dr Adrien’s helper was Madame Berthine, who has served in the hospital until today. For many years she has been a faithful anaesthetic assistant in the operating theatre. She has prayed with thousands of patients and spoken to them of the Lord Jesus before, and often during, the operations. Annie’s helper in the laboratory was Madame Marline who is Julien’s older sister. She has continued to work in the laboratory until now, and is also one of the team translating the Bible into Tsimihety. Both Berthine and Marline will be retiring this year and we give praise to the Lord for giving them to the project for all these years.
The clinic continued until June 1996 when we moved into the new hospital buildings to hold consultations and begin operations. A day of thanksgiving for these 25 years is planned in Mandritsara later this year.