REPORT FROM MADAGASCAR JUNE 2007-FEBRUARY 2008

Dr. Sergio Perini

Dr. Federico Canavesi

Dr.  Perini reminds us that ASF’s motto comes from an ancient Chinese proverb which says: “ Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time.”

The first teaching mission, run exclusively by ASF Italia, began in June 2007. The course provided three 2-week cycles,  a full-immersion with 8 hours of lessons a day, for a total of 240 hours. The theory lessons were held in the mornings and, in the afternoons,  the Italian doctor would treat patients in the hospital, and so managed to teach the practical side to the Madagascan doctors.

The first cycle in June was held by Dr. Paoluzzi and Dr. Perini and the second by Dr. Perini and Dr Canavesi.

ASF doctors must be available for 2 consecutive missions in order to guarantee continuity to the students.

The program for the June course covered the basics in TCM, study of the main and secondary meridian points, physiology of the organs and splanchna (Zang-fu), and diagnostic and therapeutic rules.

The February course went into more depth on the topics already covered and looked at Wrist-Ankle technique and Ear Therapy, as well as some  Qi Gong  exercises, Chinese psycho-gymnastics, for  bone marrow lavage.

The experience of doing this voluntary work, other than just the teaching, is truly uplifting from the point of view of the people encountered and the whole situation, which is so totally different from ours and so dramatic. In their reports, each doctor included these strong emotions and experiences.

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A PLACE WHERE I MAY HAVE BEEN……

Dr Federico Canavesi

Quite some time after returning from Madagascar, Dr. Canavesi  wrote his report which leaves  out the whole description of the technical aspects of the mission, and instead considers  the impact of the human and emotional experience  he had had.

The doctor questioned whether it was really beneficial to invest time, money and energy in organizing missions to teach acupuncture, or whether it would be better just to send the Madagascan doctors insulin and medicines that they urgently need and do not have.

The answer to his doubts came from a Madagascan doctor, who explained how important it was for Western doctors to come and share their knowledge with them.

Dr. Canavesi concluded with the consideration that the opulent West must share its knowledge with the poorer nations so that these countries can find their own resources to move forward with dignity.

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time.”