Developments in Eye Surgery at the Good News Hospital
By Dr Ted Watts
Two thousand years ago, a blind man sat begging beside the road. As Jesus approached, the man called out to him. Jesus stopped and asked him a simple question: “What do you want me to do for you?” His answer was equally simple: “Lord, I want to see.”
It is a conversation that could have been overheard many times in the consultation rooms of Hopitaly Vaovao Mahafaly, the Good News Hospital, in Mandritsara.
Dr Hanitra at work
For nearly 30 years, patients have come to Dr Hanitra seeking help. In one way or another, she has asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” Their answer has so often been the same as that of blind Bartimaeus: “I want to see.”
In the late 1990’s, an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) from the USA spent a year in Mandritsara under the auspices of Christian Blind Mission, training Dr Hanitra, a Malagasy doctor who had come initially to work as a general doctor.
Since that time, Dr Hanitra has faithfully served the patients with eye problems. She has cared for people with many different eye conditions, but a particularly important part of her work has been restoring sight to those blinded by cataracts.
Dr Miandrisoa
Dr Hanitra is now approaching retirement, which is planned for early 2027. For several years, therefore, we have been thinking and praying about who might eventually take her place.
A Malagasy junior doctor, Dr Miandrisoa, was identified as someone who might be able to take on this role. She was keen to undergo the necessary training and initially enrolled on a programme in Antananarivo to learn cataract surgery. Unfortunately, that programme did not work out quite as we had hoped, and we began to realise that another option would be needed.
We were very thankful to find an alternative training programme in Benin, where Dr Miandrisoa enrolled on a six- month course of intensive cataract surgery training. She completed it and returned to Mandritsara at the beginning of August 2026.
Dr Miandrisoa receives her diploma in Benin
Alongside this, she has been working with Dr John Sharp, an ophthalmologist from the UK, who has been providing further teaching online. John is also planning to visit Mandritsara later this year to work alongside Miandrisoa and help her as she establishes herself in practice.
Although Miandrisoa still has more training to undertake and experience to gain, we are delighted that she has now begun operating in Mandritsara under Dr Hanitra’s supervision. This is a wonderful answer to prayer and an important step towards securing the future of eye surgery at the Good News Hospital.
We thank God that Dr Hanitra will be able to retire next year knowing that the ministry she has carried on so faithfully for so many years will be continued by Dr Miandrisoa.
Three eye surgeons - Dr Miandrisoa, Dr John Sharp and Dr Hanitra
Please pray for Miandrisoa during these early months of operating. Cataract surgery can be complex, and she will sometimes need to make difficult decisions in caring for people’s eyes. Pray that God will give her skill, wisdom and confidence, protect her patients from complications, and help her to continue growing as an eye surgeon.
Please pray too that her ongoing training with Dr John Sharp will be fruitful, both online and during his planned visit to Mandritsara.
Dr Miandrisoa at work
We also have plans - still very much in their infancy - to rejuvenate the hospital’s ophthalmology department and improve the eye services we are able to offer. We hope that this work may begin during 2027. Please pray for wisdom as these plans develop and for God’s provision for all that will be needed.
The story of blind Bartimaeus reminds us that, important as physical sight is, our greatest need is not merely for healthy eyes. Our greatest need is to see Jesus: to have our eyes opened so that we recognise who He truly is, understand our need of Him and follow Him.
It is wonderful that in this context, Dr Miandrisoa is able to offer life-transforming cataract surgery alongside eternity-transforming gospel hope.
As patients continue to come through the doors of this hospital with the simple request, “I want to see,” our prayer remains: “Lord, open their eyes, that they might see.”
NORTHERN PRAYER DAY FOR MANDRITSARA
You are warmly invited to our Prayer Day on Saturday 10th October in Glasgow. The address is:
Crow Road Free Church, 29 Crow Rd, Glasgow G11 7RT.
It will also be possible to join online too, via a link which we'll circulate nearer the time.
We'll be praying from 2pm until about 5pm, with a break for tea/coffee etc halfway, and there will be lunch served from about 12:30pm for anyone who is attending in person.
We hope to see many of you there or online! Thank you as always for all your prayers for the work in Mandritsara throughout the year.