A discreet visit from Yaël Braun-Pivet, serial amputations or even hasty sheltering at the announcement of the Dikeli storm… were on the program of the second detachment on the island, as part of the deployment of the Escrim field hospital, of 29 Gard firefighters. We take stock this Monday, January 13 with Colonel Michel Cherbetian, 24 hours before his return to mainland France.
Barely a month after the passage of Cyclone Chido, Mayotte suffered the brunt of tropical storm Dikeli this weekend. Has this new climatic event had an impact on the functioning of Escrim, the Gard field hospital deployed in Mamoudzou since December 24?
Quite. The arrival of this storm forced us on Friday January 10 in the afternoon to carry out the complete dismantling of the mobile hospital, for emergency shelter for our staff and equipment. On the day of the warm and discreet visit of Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, we were forced to suspend care which, until then, had been provided to more than 200 patients each day. In just 16 hours, 70 tons of medical equipment were sheltered in four containers which were delivered to us by air by civil security, and in a cyclone refuge zone where our staff also retreated. : the changing rooms located under the stands under construction at the Cavani stadium, on the heights of Mamoudzou.
Midi Libre – D.R.
Until the forced cessation of its activity last Friday, what was the care provided in the field hospital?
Under the direction of a military doctor from civil security, the health professionals mobilized over the past two weeks have had to firstly manage the trauma resulting from the violence of the cyclone (fracture, strains, injuries of all kinds). A psychologist from Sdis 30, for his part, ensured continued care for people in shock. Many children who have been mute since December 14 (the date Cyclone Chido passed through the island) have regained their speech following their consultation.
Secondly, the doctors, surgeons, anesthetists, radio technicians and other nurses mobilized were responsible for all these pathologies induced by the reconstruction phase begun after the disaster. Resilient, the most precarious Mahorais population very quickly set about rebuilding their precarious habitat. Achilles heel ruptures, severe cuts and infected wounds, particularly due to the very high humidity, then occurred in number. Until the interruption of care last Friday, an average of fourteen block operations were carried out by Escrim surgeons and anesthetists.
Last, and perhaps the heaviest: amputations. Diabetes, certainly due to poor diet, is a scourge on this island. However, wounds become infected more quickly and more seriously in diabetic patients. Under these conditions, medical staff were forced to carry out no fewer than four foot amputations in two weeks.
As of 3 p.m. local time on Monday, January 13, the red alert was lifted. With Storm Dikeli behind you, when do you hope to resume care for the benefit of the local population?
Until a few hours ago, we were hoping that Escrim would be back in action this Wednesday, January 15. Unfortunately, the force of the wind, which remains very intense, forced us to postpone the reassembly of the field hospital. The disappointment is great for all the firefighters and professionals of this second detachment who will leave the island permanently this Tuesday, January 14. We hoped to make the hospital operational again before the arrival of the third detachment which, under the direction of Commander Patrice Dusserre, will take over from Wednesday. But due to weather conditions this will not be possible.
