“As someone with a disability myself, I want to help people in similar situations.”

In Tuléar Madagascar, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) partners with the center for rehabilitation and artificial limb fitting at the regional hospital. HI trains community agents identify vulnerable individuals who could benefit from rehabilitation services, stimulation therapy and artificial limb devices. The organization then links them to the appropriate services, covers the costs, organizes the logistics and follows their progress.

What is your role?

My name is Deriaz Christian. and I work for the CASIMIR project in the southwest region of Madagascar. I have been working with HI for almost three years now.

When people come to the rehabilitation center, I support them throughout the process. My role is to accompany, supervise and organize their visits. I book and cover the cost of their cabs and busses to travel to the center and I book their accommodation here. I also manage the payments that cover their food costs while they are here receiving services. We oversee the whole process to make sure everyone can access rehabilitation services.

Sometimes the coordination is complicated, because there are different kinds of patients for different services, and sometimes many people come at the same time - so, it’s important to know everyone well and to be organized. 

What do you like most about your work?

I love everything about my work! I love taking care of the people we support because I get to have a relationship with everyone.

In my previous job, I worked with vulnerable populations too. But here at HI, I get to work with vulnerable people and people who have disabilities. As someone with a disability myself[1], I want to help people in similar situations.

The patients that have had the biggest impact on me are people with total paralysis, in both their lower limbs and upper limbs. We see just how far society still has to go to be accessible for these individuals.

What is your message?

My message is to raise awareness on everyone, especially on people with disabilities and parents of children with disability. They should not hide. Instead, bring children with disabilities and people with disabilities here to the center for rehabilitation and artificial limb services so they can be taken care of.