Antsa Nomenjanahary Rakotondrandriana

Valérie Bisson : Could you describe what led you to pursue scientific studies?
Antsa Nomenjanahary Rakotondrandriana : I have been interested in medical studies since I was a child. I was fascinated by the functioning of the human body, but also by healthcare. I was very attracted to science and already had the idea of improving everything related to medicine.
My grandfather was a doctor and he inspired me greatly. Healthcare has always been one of my primary concerns. When I was asked as a little girl what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would answer: I want to be a doctor!

V B : How would you define care?
A N R : Medicine is, above all else, a technical act. For me, this act must be accompanied by contact; listening, talking and communicating with empathy are an integral part of care. Suturing and treating also require reassurance. Care is both a medical act and an act of humanity.

V B : Is passing on knowledge part of your responsibilities?
A N R : That’s a very good question; when you love something, you want to pass on your passion to others. I taught medicine at the University of Fianarantsoa, and I enjoyed that experience. Now at CNARP, I have trainees who are interested in medicine, and they ask me for advice. Passing on knowledge and skills is essential. Working in public health requires a collective vision and large-scale dissemination. And I continue to treat and prescribe for CNARP staff.

V B : You moved from public health to clinical research. Could you explain how this shift came about?
A N R : After specialising in public health, I was hired by the CNARP as a doctor and researcher. When you are a doctor, you are already interested in research, as there are always innovations. In my case, I wanted to be able to care for several people at once in order to prevent disease and treat the community. I had to learn how public health works and its specific characteristics, as well as those of research, as they are inseparable. For me, it wasn’t exactly a shift, it was a whole package.

V B : How did you become involved in the IMPRIMA project?
A N R : The IMPRIMA project is an ambitious international project led by several organisations, including the CNARP. It is also a meaningful project, as many people in Madagascar are affected by malaria.
As a research physician at the CNARP, I was selected for this project and I am fully committed to it. The administrative side of things is very demanding, but I see this as a challenge. As a physician-researcher at CNARP, I was chosen for this project and I am 100% committed to it. The administrative aspect is very demanding, and I see this as a challenge. Developing the clinical study documents is a collaborative challenge that allows us to renew our knowledge of good clinical practices, and we are learning a lot from the practices of other countries. IMPRIMA is a tremendous opportunity to broaden our impact and move forward.

V B : Could you describe your vision of research in a few words?
A N R : Learning about medicine in depth has been a vocation, as has learning new things. Scientific innovation is a driving force, and clinical research is a real bridge between data, which can seem abstract, and the malaria patient suffering in their bed, who cannot be treated without specific knowledge about that individual. I like this idea of a bridge between a microscopic vision, which is that of research, and a macroscopic vision, which is that of humanity, humanity in the broad sense in the sense that we work for the collective good.