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Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among women in France. The reason is mainly due to a lack of prevention. A traveling bus has been meeting patients for two years to remedy this.
At the gates of the Ardèche mountains, the town of Privas makes every effort to fight against the medical desert. The small town is hosting the “Heart Bus” for the second year, which allows totally free cardiovascular screening for women. The screening process takes several hours. It all starts with a consultation with the cardiologist who developed the “Heart Buses”. Once consultation finished, it remains to perform A electrocardiogram, a voltage tap, and A screening in the mini lab installed in the bus.
15 departments visited in two years
“If I came, it’s to know where I am”, explains a patient. Every woman also benefits from an interview with a gynecologist or a midwife. The medical check-up is complete and free, which reassures the population, faced with a significant medical desert.
In two years, 4,300 women have benefited cardiovascular screening in 15 departments. “80% of womenmy children did not see a cardiologist even though they had warning symptoms. There is an assumption debt”, says Professor Claire Mounier-Vehierco-founder of “Bus du cœur”. The bus is financed by local authorities, the State and private donors.