With its shower bus, the Red Cross offers a hygiene service to the poor. After visiting several towns in the archipelago, it stopped at Terrain Sonis, in Les Abymes (behind the central police station), this Thursday (June 27).
Mathilde will tryt, mediator at Caarud, told us more about this system.
We have already visited, I think, more than ten municipalities. We were able to install the shower bus in two locations in Marie-Galante and we are continuing our diagnosis of the entire territory. We still have, I think, a few months of diagnosis. This will allow us to know which municipality needs this action the most.
The shower bus is arranged in such a way that users feel comfortable, in complete privacy, as explained Mathilde Provost.
At the back of the truck, there is a separate door that allows you to enter the bathroom area, in which you can find a shower, a sink, a mirror and a socket so that users can shave if necessary, etc. They also leave with a small hygiene kit from the Red Cross, in which they will find shaving foam, toothpaste, a toothbrush, shower gel, moisturizer. In the women’s kits, there will also be menstrual protection.
By collaborating with town halls and associations to find places to supply water and electricity, the Caarud teams seek to enhance the self-esteem of people in very precarious circumstances. This is what he told us Gary Touvin as he had just finished cutting a user’s hair.
The haircut is part of self-esteem. When the user comes to see us, he will take a shower, he will have his hair done, he will have new clothes. It is someone else who will leave the room.
Each time the shower bus travels, the health screening bus is also present. It allows users who wish to do rapid screening tests for HIV and hepatitis C and B.
If they wish, users can also chat with the team or meet a social worker.
