Munich Nurse Brings Vital Medical Care Back to Madagascar
A trained nurse from Munich University Hospital, Fahendrena Vanessa Rose de Lima Body, has returned to her home country of Madagascar to volunteer with Mercy Ships on board the hospital ship Africa Mercy®. This marks the organisation’s fifth field service in the country, with Vanessa set to return to Germany in mid-December.
For the 28-year-old, who was born in Madagascar, the mission fulfils a long-held ambition: to bring urgently needed medical support to her fellow citizens. Vanessa gained professional experience in anaesthesia and emergency care before joining Munich University Hospital, having trained initially at the municipal hospital in Bad Tölz following a voluntary social year in Germany.
Vanessa learned German as a school student in Madagascar and, inspired by her cousin who had worked as a translator on the Africa Mercy in 2014, she resolved to pursue a medical career and one day volunteer with Mercy Ships.
Speaking about the healthcare situation in Madagascar, Vanessa highlighted the challenges faced by rural communities. “Anyone who needs medical care in Madagascar has to pay. Treatment, medication – everything is expensive, and most people simply cannot afford it. If you have no money, you must accept your illness,” she said.
She noted that while hospitals exist in the capital, Antananarivo, access is far more difficult in rural areas due to long distances, poor road infrastructure, and prohibitive costs.
“Sometimes people die simply because there is no help available in the countryside. That is why the work of Mercy Ships is so important. Thanks to donations, patients can receive surgery free of charge, and local healthcare workers gain skills that continue to benefit communities long after the ship has left,” she explained.
As part of the ship’s anaesthesia team, Vanessa helps patients overcome language barriers, build trust with medical staff, and feel safe in an unfamiliar environment. “It is a wonderful service that I am honoured to provide,” she said.
Mercy Ships Germany Managing Director Lydia Rieger emphasised the critical role volunteers play in the organisation’s work. “Without our volunteers, Mercy Ships simply could not carry out its work.
This year alone, around 100 volunteers came from Germany and Austria. On International Volunteer Day, we want to highlight just how indispensable their contribution is – whether in medical roles, technical support, or numerous other functions on board,” she said.
Vanessa will return to her role in Munich in mid-December, shortly before Mercy Ships concludes its ten-month mission in Madagascar.
For more information, visit www.MercyShips.de.
