On Friday, September 8, Morocco experienced its strongest earthquake on record in the High Atlas region, approximately 75 km southeast of Marrakesh. This natural and human catastrophe quickly triggered concern and dismay around the world. That was all the more true for the Moroccan diaspora and others with attachments to the country. Four managers from our CIUSSS—three of Moroccan origin and one who had lived there—did not hesitate to go there to provide much-needed support.
Saadia Marfouk, Director—Vaccination, Screening, and Testing, El Mahfoud Mourouane and Hamid Snoussi, both activity coordinators at the Centre d’hébergement Nazaire-Piché, all went to support their compatriots in Morocco from September 18 to October 6. Travelling with them was Mariama Bragvadze, a gynecologist by training and Head of Clinical Services—Point de service local de Kirkland for the Vaccination, Screening, and Testing Directorate, who is originally from Georgia but lived in Morocco for a number of years.
All four put their nursing and medical skills to work supporting care teams, particularly in rural and mountainous areas near Taroudant, which were some of the hardest-hit. Amongst other things they work at:
- Accompanying mobile care teams;
- Triage and prioritization of the injured;
- Providing emergency care (wounds, fractures, sprains, burns, etc.);
- developing intervention plans adapted to the needs of local communities, in collaboration with local and international healthcare professionals;
- Vaccinating children;
- Pregnancy and childbirth care;
- Distributing medications;
- Monitoring of chronic conditions.
“Naturally, and in accordance with the directions given by King Mohammed VI, it was clear that everyone—the authorities, and all Moroccans—were working together to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster. It was a very moving experience for me. This exceptional outpouring of solidarity by everyone was very heartwarming,” says Saadia Marfouk humbly on behalf of the group.
The CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal is proud to have such dedicated managers. Mss. Marfouk and Bragvadze, Messrs. Mourouane and Snoussi, we thank you for your altruism, your courage, and your sense of duty.
Photos 1 to 3 :
Gutted and crumbling houses, piles of rocks and bricks, devastated villages, and makeshift homes—this is the landscape that awaited our colleagues. El Mahfoud Mourouane spoke about the situation with a reporter.
Photo 4 :
The team, smiling despite the enormity of their task, in an urban area. From left to right: Saadia Marfouk, El Mahfoud Mourouane, Hamid Snoussi, Irina, a Russian dentist who accompanied our colleagues during their trip, Mariama Bragvadze and Marina, the daughter of Irina.
Photos 5 to 8 :
People needed care, often provided in tents, but they also needed comforting.
Photo 9 :
Accessing the disaster areas was a real challenge, as roads were very rough to navigate.
Photos 10 to 12 :
Care was provided directly on site, with a great deal of collaboration, inventiveness, and caring.