From Madagascar to Ostrava
Until recently, they had never heard of Ostrava, perhaps not even of the Czech Republic. Thanks to the Erasmus+ programme, they are getting to know it firsthand. We're talking about ten medical students from Madagascar who were given an incredible opportunity to spend part of the summer semester at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava. They not only gained new knowledge, but also invaluable experience.
Even though they had to travel over 9,000 kilometers, their schedule was packed from the moment they arrived. The programme was designed to cover a wide range of medical specialties while also offering both practical training and expert lectures. Just a few hours after landing and completing the necessary formalities, the students from Africa were already sitting in the classrooms of the Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health. In addition to theoretical lectures, they underwent practical training, including required vaccinations. Between lectures, they also managed to take a tour of the simulation center. And if anything surprised this group of students up to that point, stepping into the Emergency Admission area of SIMLEK and seeing the full-body patient simulators left them truly shocked. It’s no wonder that everyone immediately pulled out their phones to record the experience. But they didn’t stop at taking interesting videos and photos for their classmates – they also tried out our simulators, including laparoscopic ones.
They also attended classes such as Fundamentals of Nursing Care during their stay. Under the supervision of instructors from the Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, they practiced basic invasive nursing procedures on models and mannequins. It was also their first time meeting Czech medical students, with whom they began discussing how medical training differs in Madagascar. "One of the biggest differences is the length of study. While medical students in the Czech Republic study for six years, in Madagascar, it takes at least eight years to become a doctor," explains medical student Faneva Todisoa.
Since the visiting students from Toliara University are already in their seventh year of medical school, they soon began practical training at the University Hospital Ostrava. They took part in hands-on instruction at several departments, including Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine; Clinical and Molecular Pathology and Medical Genetics; as well as Gynecology & Obstetrics and the Surgery Clinic. A two-week internship also awaits them at the same hospital's Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology. It's already clear that they will return to Madagascar with invaluable experiences – something Faneva Todisoa affirms: "Ostrava is a really beautiful and green city, especially in spring when everything is blooming. But for me, the biggest highlight, and what will probably remain unforgettable, is the practical training we're receiving at the university hospital. I even got the chance to assist a doctor during an arthroscopic surgery. I will never forget that."
The future doctor from Africa appreciates not only the advanced medical technology and modern equipment available in Ostrava but also the abundance of medical supplies, which gives the hospital staff almost unlimited possibilities for treating patients. "I haven't seen anything like this during my entire medical studies – and probably won't again for quite a while. I truly hope that one day we'll be able to provide at least half as high-quality care in Madagascar as you do for your patients here in the Czech Republic," Faneva Todisoa adds, with hope in his voice.
Updated: 22. 05. 2025
