(Illustration) A nurse preparing to vaccinate.

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Jacques Witt / SIPA

In Wallis and Futuna, the arrival of the Covid-19 at the beginning of March led to a massive vaccination campaign and the sending of numerous reinforcements in a degraded and long neglected health context, which will be the subject of a total renovation in the framework of the “Ségur de la santé”.

Thanks to drastic protection of its borders, this French archipelago in the South Pacific had remained free of Covid-19 for a year, but a case outside the fortnight, which was not considered to be patient zero, was detected March 6.

One third of the population vaccinated

The epidemic then spread very quickly, particularly on the main island of Wallis, with 375 positive cases against only 10 in Futuna.

Four patients, aged 35 to 83, died, and seven other seriously ill patients were evacuated to New Caledonia, 1,800 kilometers away.

Faced with this outbreak, a vaccination campaign for the entire major population was launched on March 20 in the archipelago after the emergency dispatch of 18,000 doses.

"On the tenth day of the campaign, we are at exactly 38.5% of the major population (3,190 people), which received the first injection of vaccine (Moderna)", declared Tuesday Hervé Jonathan, senior administrator (prefect) .

In addition to vaccines, 72 caregivers and several tonnes of medical equipment were dispatched from mainland France, to which were added means sent by New Caledonia.

"Strict and controlled" confinement is in effect until April 6 in this French territory furthest from the metropolis, whose population is eroding, for lack of economic development (11,400 inhabitants in 2020 against 15,000 in 2003).

A degraded health system

This crisis arises while for several years reports from health organizations or financial institutions denounce the constant deterioration of the health of Wallisians and Futunians and the insufficiency of the resources deployed.

The most recent is that of the Social Affairs Commission of the National Assembly of October 2020, drafted after the allocation of an exceptional endowment within the framework of the “Ségur de la santé”.

The report considers "this (financial) commitment indispensable and expected" and draws a devastating observation of the situation in Wallis and Futuna where "current health expenditure per inhabitant is, with Mayotte, the lowest of the French overseas territories".

"The buildings and premises are dilapidated, basic safety rules are not respected, the operating theater does not meet any ISO standard (...) Two dispensaries are located in a flood zone (...) and the Futuna hospital is entirely asbestos", can we read.

Recruiting professionals in this isolated and under-equipped territory being a puzzle, there are no cardiologists, no pediatricians, no oncologists, no more than ENT or ophthalmologist.

With 70% of the adult population obese, 20% diagnosed with diabetes and 34% hypertensive, the effects in terms of public health are described as "extremely serious".

Frequent medical evacuations

In Wallis and Futuna, life expectancy peaks at 76.9 years against 83.4 years in metropolitan France, while each month around 70 people are subject to medical evacuation to New Caledonia, Australia or the hexagon.

If the unhealthy lifestyle (tobacco, alcohol, rich and processed food) is the main cause, the Health Agency, a state establishment, "has never really taken hold of its prevention mission".

During the “Ségur de la santé”, 49 million euros were released: 45 in investment and 4 for the functioning of the health agency.

These sums should allow a major renovation over the next few years, in particular through the construction of a new hospital in Futuna, the creation of jobs, the development of telemedicine and a home nursing service and hospitalization. development of a public health policy.

"For the moment, these recent credits are not implemented because we have been impacted by the Covid crisis but we really need it", explains Xavier Montserrat, director of the Health Agency.

Health

Coronavirus: 18,000 vaccine doses will be sent in a few days to the Wallis and Futuna Islands

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