Daily Portraits
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Cœur de Gazelles
Patient triage
Patient triage is an essential part of the medical caravan: the triage team welcomes the patients and assigns them consultations with the various doctors. For the patients, it is also their first contact with the caravan. It is essential to establish trust right at the outset.
The triage team is made up of several components: the administrative section, which works on CBA Informatique software, and Moroccan nurses, who provide translation services. Their role is important because they are responsible for analyzing the patient’s needs and directing them to the appropriate specialty. Administrative staff and nurses then complete the medical file to provide the doctors with all the information they need when they meet with the patient.
The nurses also play a second role: diabetes screening. Many of the patients who visit the caravan have diabetes without even knowing it. Often, the disease is not pronounced, but it still needs to be taken seriously. While there is no cure, diabetes can be controlled through appropriate treatment and behaviours.
Indeed, diabetes can be hereditary or linked to certain lifestyles. High sugar consumption, excess weight and a lack of physical exercise are significant factors that can cause the disease. The mission of the nurses is to analyze and understand the patients’ lifestyle habits, in order to educate them about the good habits they should adopt to prevent the disease from getting worse.
The administration team
First name: Sandra
Occupation: Health executive
Number of years with CDG: 3
Why did you choose Cœur de Gazelles? “My husband has been a dentist with the medical caravan for 6 years, and transmitted the virus to me! I heard him talk about it so much, I wanted to be part of the medical caravan, experience the adventure myself and do what I can to help.”
First name: Caroline
Occupation: Administrative and commercial advisor
Number of years with CDG: 3
Why did you choose Cœur de Gazelles? “I did the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles 4 times and that’s how I discovered Cœur de Gazelles. I sent an e-mail to Marina telling her I wanted to help. I really wanted to discover this side of things, to live a human adventure. I greatly appreciate my connection with the team, and I am happy this year to have direct contact with the patients thanks to the CBA Informatique program, which allows me to work in triage.”
First name: Sylvie
Occupation: Health executive in a psychiatric clinic
Number of years with CDG: 8
Why did you choose Cœur de Gazelles? “My partner is an organizer with the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, and I discovered Cœur de Gazelles through him. I first joined the donations unit before joining the medical caravan. Then I switched to administration, and I love what I do. This team is a real family.”
The nursing unit
First name: Habiba
Occupation: Nursing assistant in Venissieux
Number of years with CDG: 7
Why did you choose Cœur de Gazelles? “Sylvie, who is part of the administrative team, told me about the medical caravan. She’s a childhood friend, and she convinced me to give it a try. I came because I wanted to do something positive, and I immediately loved the atmosphere. I am always very touched by the smiles, and Cœur de Gazelles is like a family to me.”
First name: Wafaa
Occupation: Nurse
Number of years with CDG: 1
Why did you choose Cœur de Gazelles? “I’m a friend of Abdel’s (paediatric surgeon with the caravan), and he told me about Cœur de Gazelles and showed me photos and videos. He piqued my curiosity and made me want to join the caravan to see the work they are doing first-hand.”
First name: Abdel
Occupation: Nurse
Number of years with CDG: 1
Why did you choose Cœur de Gazelles? “I know Safae (nurse) and Omar (doctor), because we all work at the Rabat Hospital Centre. I have taken part in other caravans, and I wanted to see how things work on the Cœur de Gazelles caravan. It was a bit of a dream to come, I really want to help people. I am delighted to be here; the team is great.”
First name: Safae
Occupation: Nurse
Number of years with CDG: 2
Why did you choose Cœur de Gazelles? “I heard about the medical caravan from Aziz (paediatric surgeon), who offered me a place. I learned about the association and its actions on its website. It made me want to get involved. I really like the ambiance, the bivouacs with the team, and I appreciate all the actions carried out by Cœur de Gazelles.”
