The City organized an evening in honor of all those who mobilized during the Covid, in particular at the Costières vaccination and screening center. Health workers, but also non-medical professionals had helped.
Nurses, dentists, students, or even veterinarians. Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier invited “nearly 800 people” at a ceremony of thanks this Tuesday, July 5 in the evening in the gardens of the Fountain. If not everyone was able to make themselves available, several dozen guests are gathered in front of the temple of Diana, with guitarists playing background music, a refreshment bar and a light evening breeze ending a very hot day.
Festive atmosphere at the evening of thanks to the staff mobilized during the health crisis, organized by the city of Nîmes. pic.twitter.com/GFIjylIIhz
– Midi Libre Nimes (@MidiLibreNimes) July 5, 2022
In his speech, the mayor thanks all those who have volunteered in the fight against the Covid. Many professionals and students are committed to Costières vaccination and screening center, opened in May 2021. This is the case, for example, of Nathalie Delage, a liberal psychologist but with nursing experience. All smiles, she multiplies the praises to the organization “in the top” from the vaccination center: “it was going fast but at the same time it remained human”before sliding: “If the government managed the entire health system in this way, we would not be here today!”
Not all volunteers were from the health sector. Marie and Matis, both language university students, got involved in the battle. “Multitask”they managed the flow at the Costières center, did post-injection observation, created QR codes…“At first it was just a little summer job. But we stayed six months!”
If this ceremony comes at a time when infections are on the rise, Dolores Orlay-Moureau, assistant delegate for health, is vigilant but not very worried. It calls for caution, especially in enclosed spaces. On the question of the return of the mask or the pass, she decides: “we’re not there yet.”
The vaccination center is closed since Februarybut the screening center remains open at least until the end of the summer.