Diana’s mother is relieved. She who left everything hastily, almost without luggage, because of the war in Ukraine, will finally succeed in obtaining medication: the treatment for the epilepsy from which her daughter suffers. “We arrived in France three days ago, she confides. My 18-year-old daughter is on medication to prevent seizures, but we only have two days of medication left. I need help, my daughter’s health is at stake.”
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In this refugee center in Paris, the Sauv Life association offers free teleconsultations for refugees with the Bealy platform. The objective is simple: to respond to one of the main concerns of Ukrainian refugees who have just arrived in France.
#SAVELife mobilizes in the context of the crisis #ukrainian.
In order to preserve routes of #care for them #refugees Ukrainians in France, we provide mobile telemedicine units to go to their bedside.
Operation performed with @FrenchHealthcare and @BealyHello. pic.twitter.com/e0RNFhwM3P— SAVE Life (@SAVELife) March 10, 2022
Many people have fled their country without their medicines, sometimes long-term treatments. Still others arrive sick, shocked and exhausted from days of travel. In the case of Diana, it is Arnaud, a nurse, who acts as intermediary with Doctor Kern, a doctor based hundreds of kilometers away, in the Meuse. “We are no longer in prescription renewal”explains Arnaud before Dr. Kern continues: “I am giving him a prescription for three months”.
“It seemed obvious to me that as long as we have slots in the agenda, we lend a hand as much as we can.”
Doctor Kern, member of Sauv Lifeat franceinfo
These medicines, the Ukrainian refugees pay for them at the moment. In the next few days, the Health Insurance will take care of them.
The Sauv Life association, which brings together volunteer caregivers, including emergency doctors, has already organized dozens of consultations for Ukrainian refugees, says one of its leaders, Caroline Cazes. “There were quite a few children who had gastric problems such as vomiting, gastroenteritis… Many people were also shocked. We also had people who had very bad backs, linked to hours and hours of walking.”
“A lot of times it’s chronic illnesses of diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, all that really require medication to keep the disease from getting worse.”
Caroline Cazes, head of Sauv Lifeat franceinfo
The teleconsultation team is mobile, as needed. An emergency call and direction to a hotel in the North of Paris which welcomes refugees. Sacha, 9 years old, autistic, is lying in a bed. He is feverish. “Since yesterday, his fever is 38”says his mother, Vala. Anna, who has lived in France for more than thirty years, translates: she is Russian, her husband Ukrainian.
With his mother Vala, his brother and his sister, Sacha has just spent two days in a bus to leave Ukraine. Looking worried, her mother, who is raising her three children alone, caresses Sacha’s hair. 38.8°C, the temperature rose again.
“We are going to take him to the hospital, it is better to do examinations on the spot.” Given the boy’s history, the team decides to call an ambulance and transfer him to the hospital. Before leaving, the caregivers, very moved, hug the mother. A dignified, lonely woman with no plans for the future.
War in Ukraine: volunteer caregivers assist refugees who arrived in France without their medication. The report by Solenne Le Hen
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