Caregivers are severely strained by the epidemic that has been arriving at a public hospital in crisis for months. Citizen initiatives are organized to give them support.
Medical staff are on the front lines of the coronavirus epidemic that is hitting the country. Exhausted caregivers sometimes struggle to take care of their families and their personal lives: difficulties in shopping, taking care of their children, exhausting and endless working days.
Confined citizens are affected by this situation, and many people want to be able to do their part in the fight against the virus.
Impulses of solidarity have therefore been created to organize the essential aid.
Marie, a resident of Paris, is part of a collective of citizens who work for the carers of the nearest hospital to her in the 20th arrondissement: "Some have sewn masks on the model of that proposed by the Grenoble University Hospital; others cook meals and snacks because the hospital self service operates on reduced duty. The staff are very touched by this comfort!”
Self-help groups and online kitty
A site like https://enpremiereligne.fr/ offers a national level to help caregivers, but also firefighters or employees who fill the shelves of stores. People can sign up to provide help, but also to ask for help, as a worker, but also as a vulnerable person who cannot go shopping.
Solidarity is also organized on social networks by local Facebook groups: by tapping on the “solidarity coronavirus” network and selecting the “Groups” tab, you will find the citizen branch closest to you.
Finally, prize pools have been created to provide financial assistance.
Regions are variously affected by the congestion of hospitals. The Fondation des Hôpitaux de Paris – Hôpitaux de France has set up a fundraising campaign to help nursing staff and hospitalized patients, in the context of the coronavirus crisis. Donations can be made via the Internet on the foundation's website or by SMS to 92 111.
Caregivers remind that one of the ways to help is to scrupulously respect barrier gestures so as not to spread the epidemic. The healthcare community finally recalls that after the epidemic will also be an opportunity to discuss the means allocated by the State to public hospitals.
by Mathilde Wattecamps