Tiavina’s Story

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In October 2020, 3 year old Tiavina, along with her mother and grandmother arrived in Toliara. 

They had made the 500 km journey from their home city Ambovombe in the far south of Madagascar to seek treatment for Tiavina’s feet. They did not know Tiavina had clubfeet, or “biko” in the local Malagasy dialect, but knew that without treatment her feet would never be normal and would result in a lifetime of disability and discrimination.

Initially the family presented at the local rehabilitation centre which fortunately, recognised that Tiavina had clubfeet and needed treatment at the ADFA clinic. Lucile Rasamison, ADFA’s clubfoot manager in Madagascar, educated the family about the Ponseti method of treating clubfoot. They faced many challenges but Tiavina’s family were determined that she should receive excellent treatment for her clubfoot.

Tiavina required many plaster casts and an Achilles tendon tenotomy, but she and her family are now very happy with the results of the treatment provided by the ADFA clubfoot clinic. This gorgeous child will hopefully now be able to live her life without deformity, pain and discrimination.

“I didn’t know what to do. I only hoped she could be treated with massage. But when I saw photos of other children, I hoped that Tiavina would one day be able to walk like other children.”
Tiavina’s mother

News

Channel 10 News!

Channel 10 News!

Did you catch us on the Channel 10 News on Friday night?  If not click below to see the fantastic work our nurses and doctors are doing in Madagascar, with support from the Australian NGO Cooperation Program. 

Yin & Yang – Digby Cullen & Graham Forward

Yin & Yang – Digby Cullen & Graham Forward

Read the Yin & Yang article featured in The West Magazine on 29 September 2018 about how Dr Digby Cullen, Gastroenterologist, and Dr Graham Forward, ADFA Founder and CEO worked together to grow a charity that provides medical assistance and training in Africa....