Madagascar Roundup: Olympic games, free surgeries, cyclone

Cyclone predicted

Tanzania Meteorological Authority warns of a new cyclone, Ialy, forming in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. The cyclone is expected to remain between Madagascar and Seychelles for four days before weakening. TMA advises sea users and the public to monitor forecast information and seek guidance, The Citizen reports.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games in tennis

Madagascar, Nigeria, and Cameroon secured spots at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in tennis. Fabio Rakotoarimanana made history as the first Madagascan to qualify. According to Vanguard, Nigeria's Offiong Edem and Olajide Omotayo, as well as Cameroon's Sarah Hannfou, also earned their spots. The qualification tournament was hosted by the Rwanda Table Tennis Federation.

Preservation of aquatic organisms

Madagascar held a workshop emphasising the importance of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO)Ballast Water Management (BWM) and Anti-fouling Systems Conventions (AFS). The BWM Convention aims to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms in ships' ballast water, while the AFS Convention sets controls on certain harmful substances in anti-fouling systems. The workshop focused on implementing and enforcing the conventions at the national level. Mirage News indicates that the IMO has been running workshops to encourage ratification and effective implementation of the conventions, leading to a growth in ratification status and improved protection of the marine environment.

Free surgeries for selected patients

Hospital ship Africa Mercy is set to commence free life-changing surgeries for selected patients in Madagascar. Since arriving in February, they have implemented an extensive strategy covering diverse regions in Madagascar. This marks their fourth field service in the country, providing over 6,425 life-changing surgical procedures and training 2,019 healthcare professionals in previous visits. Africa.com reports that the organization aims to increase the number of surgical providers and deliver training across the surgical ecosystem. Over 3,000 volunteer professionals from over 60 countries serve on board. Patients will begin boarding the ship in two weeks to receive surgeries. For more information, visit www.MercyShips.org.

Catholic Church rejects law allowing for castration of paedophiles

Madagascar's Catholic Church denounces law allowing castration of paedophiles, calling it "torture" and a violation of human rights and ethics. The law has also faced criticism from human rights groups for being "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment." Despite the high rates of child rape in Madagascar, the government's justification for the law has been met with scepticism, Crux reports.