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“If only I knew the sense of pride and belonging I felt when I put my blouse back on!” ”
In the spring, Salah Bahloul, who was a doctor in his native Algeria and who signed up for “I contribute! », Service resumed.
Along with 42 other health professionals from 16 different countries whose diplomas have not yet been recognized here, Mr. Bahloul was selected to be part of an infection prevention and control brigade created during the emergency in the spring. by Public Health of Montreal.
Together, these 43 agents – who were doctors, public health experts, microbiologists, infection control experts, etc. in their home country. And who are not yet licensed to practice – they were commissioned to fly to the aid of homes for the elderly “when we were in the midst of a crisis in the spring, struggling with multiple outbreaks,” explains Dre Mylène Drouin, Montreal Director of Public Health.
On Thursday this initiative was rewarded with a Hippocrates prize (usually awarded to a doctor) aimed at highlighting a particularly innovative project in times of pandemic.
“Many of the members of our brigade come from West or Central Africa,” explains Dre Marie Muñoz-Bertrand, medical consultant for the prevention and control of infectious diseases at the public health of Montreal. Many of them had previously worked during the Ebola, cholera or measles outbreaks. ”
Before sending them to the field, team members received rapid infection control training, with more updates as the virus became better understood and guidelines changed.
Continuously supported by specialist staff, including five doctors, a biosecurity expert and nursing consultants, they began by doing on-site assessments. The managers were then informed of the improvements to be made. Finally, staff were directed to best practices, including the best way to wear safety gear.
Large-scale distribution
This brigade has been deployed in 311 senior living environments: CHSLD, retirement homes, etc. – as well as in 65 religious communities which were very lonely. This led to a total of 2,183 field visits, both to homes still spared from COVID-19 and where its progression needed to be stopped.
According to Dre Mylène Drouin, the establishment of this team “is one of the keys”, which explains why this time things are going better in Montreal retirement homes.
Living environments for the elderly are better prepared, a bond of trust has been created and communication with them has been facilitated.
The Dre Mylène Drouin, Montreal Director of Public Health
Team coordinator Anne Landry’s wish is for this project to survive the pandemic, in a way! “Infection control is always important and such a team would continue to be helpful in limiting the spread of the flu or gastroenteritis. ”
What the Dre Marie Muñoz-Bertrand retains from her experience with all these people from different countries, “it is their resilience, their ability to adapt quickly to the situation and their great desire to make their contribution”.
For his part, at the age of 50, Salah Bahloul believes it is too late to resume training that would allow him to have a valid license here. He points out that he gets “great satisfaction” from seeing that things are going better in retirement homes this time, in Montreal.
“As a doctor in my country, I have always believed in the principle that prevention is better than cure. Everything has to be done to prevent a person from becoming a patient. ”
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