The West Indies have been facing a resurgence of the Covid-19 epidemic for a few weeks. And despite the return of a number of restrictive measures, hospitals in Guadeloupe and Martinique are overwhelmed by the influx of patients. To help them, several hundred volunteers will leave tomorrow evening for the West Indies.

Doctors, nursing staff and non-medical staff… In total, some 240 volunteers will fly out tomorrow evening to provide assistance to hospitals in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Ile-de-France is the region that will send the most caregivers, with 64 volunteers leaving. The Hauts de France and the Grand Est have also mobilized.

An outbreak due to poor vaccination

Solidarity is being organized to come to the aid of the West Indies, which had to put in place containments in the face of the resurgence of the epidemic. The incidence rate in Martinique is close to 700, and in Guadeloupe, it has exceeded 1,100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

A fourth wave that we owe to the Delta variant, very contagious, and which affects more and more young people. The Covid-19 is wreaking havoc on these islands where the vaccination rate is very low: barely 20% of first-time vaccinations in Guadeloupe.

Call for solidarity

The Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, therefore launched an appeal last night to ask caregivers in the metropolis to come to the aid of their colleagues from overseas. The ultra-marine hospitals have opened new beds but without reinforcements, the health system will not be able to hold out for long.

The intensive care unit occupancy rate was already 200% in Martinique and 150% in Guadeloupe last week, and the situation could deteriorate further. Caregivers who wish to volunteer can report to the management of their hospital or directly to the ARS.