• The Didac'Ressources association based in Marseille has devised a game to learn the right actions to get rid of bed bugs.

  • The initiative is supported by the Abbé Pierre Foundation and ARS Paca, which distributes the game within its partner network.

Ten pushpin pawns per player, six cards drawn at random, and let's go for a game of “Punaizo” in the premises of the Didac'Ressources association in Marseille, at the origin of the board game. "The goal of the game: to eliminate, before the other players, all the bedbugs and their eggs", explains Sophie Etienne, general delegate of the association. Good pickax with the natural ultimate weapon, the vaporetto, which allows to kill eight bedbugs thanks to its effective vapor against all stages of bedbugs. Better than the "dryer" cards (kills 5 bedbugs) or "Diatomaceous earth" (kills 2 bedbugs), which prevents bedbugs from moving from one room to another.

We hasten to play the card… except that at the end of the first round, pof, each bug lays an egg.

As in real life, the beast is multiplying at great speed. "The mechanics of the game are in themselves educational", comments Florent Houdmon, regional director of the Abbé Pierre Foundation who, with the ARS Paca, funded this project. game "because it is obvious".

"There is no week when we do not have households in distress who come to see us, it's something that can drive you crazy", he says, recalling that the phenomenon affects "palaces like the poorest ".

Between 210 and 400 euros for the chemical solution

In the second round, the “specialist” card is knocked down, thinking it is playing a famous joker. It certainly kills bedbugs, but not eggs. "We will have to treat the house at least twice, about two weeks apart, to also remove the eggs," said Sophie Etienne, temporizing our enthusiasm. Not to mention that the solution is expensive: between 210 and 400 euros (the question is part of the final quiz).

"You should know that we can fight against bedbugs in a simple way, with inexpensive treatments and by taking it early", engages Carine Floch, environmental health officer at ARS Paca, who also sheds light for us the “sabotage” cards from the game. Like the “infested mattress” that we put in the street, without writing on it that it contains bedbugs.

By giving this card to a player, we also give him five pins ...

“We were won over by the fun and educational approach of this tool to fight against bedbugs,” continues Carine Floch.

The regional health agency sent 500 copies of the game to its partner structures to educate a large public.

“Punaizo” is also sold directly online by the association, at an almost cost price of 20 euros.

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