Covid-19 in the West Indies: new reinforcements of caregivers dispatched to Martinique and Guadeloupe
Audio 01:03
More than 300 medical workers and firefighters flew to the French overseas department of Martinique and Guadeloupe from Orly airport, near Paris, this Friday, August 20, 2021. AFP - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The health situation linked to Covid-19 deteriorated very quickly this week in the West Indies.
To give a hand to their colleagues on site and to the teams already come in support, a new reinforcement of caregivers was sent this Friday, August 20 to Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Report at Orly airport.
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Elmaaz, a nurse in the Paris region, insisted on being on the trip, despite a little apprehension.
“
I'm just a little apprehensive about the situation we're going to find there because in fact, they had already made an initial call two weeks ago.
So if they still need as many people, it is because the situation there must be so important.
Afterwards, I want to say, we in our department, we had to adapt as we went along and I think that's a bit of everyone's state of mind: it's about help by just being there.
"
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Read also: Covid-19 in the West Indies: hospitals are saturated and new reinforcements are planned
A change of firefighters is also planned, as this officer indicates: "
We are in the context of the relief of colleagues who left a few days ago.
There, we have two detachments of thirty.
A detachment on Martinique and a detachment on Guadeloupe.
And after, two officers who go to support the prefecture of Guadeloupe to help colleagues manage the massive flow of victims.
"
"
It is a magnificent symbol
"
The Minister of Health was represented by the Director of Health Jérôme Salomon. At the microphone of RFI, he praised the solidarity shown by caregivers: “
These professionals leave from all regions of France, apart from those which are currently in tension. It is a magnificent symbol. It is extremely moving to hear caregivers who lived the first wave, the second wave, sometimes in very affected regions who say: "They came to help me, and so it is my turn now to go and help the health professionals in the Antilles. "
"
In total, more than 900 health professionals - doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, anesthesia, resuscitation and infectious disease specialists - have gone to reinforce the West Indies.
An airlift that continues with new medical evacuations to the metropolis, scheduled for next week.
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Also to listen: Covid-19: "In the West Indies, the situation in hospitals is cataclysmic" [Guest France]
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Health and medicine