After a long and prestigious local political career, Patrick Allemand has devoted himself to social issues by leading the association Nice au cลur. He often speaks on urban life topics and tries to play the role of the gadfly in debates. Sometimes he chooses obscure subjects, other times his alerts are useful. The argument he presents below deserves attention and action.
As the vaccination of those over 70 progresses, we notice that certain populations still have not pre-registered. This is particularly true for the “chibanis” and certain often illiterate populations residing in low-income neighborhoods.
Regarding the “chibanis,” these isolated immigrant workers who arrived in the 1960s in France and are often grouped in former worker hostels (Sonacotra), now called Adoma residences, due to the pandemic, these men also suffer from loneliness and have no prospects of returning to their home country. With the closure of borders and the shutdown of social venues like associative centers or neighborhood bars they frequent, they are disoriented and deeply affected mentally.
For the elderly people of foreign origins living in low-income neighborhoods, who are often illiterate, the majority have not pre-registered to get vaccinated.
This is why, considering the age of these people (over 70 and 80 years old) and the fact that this population is largely illiterate, I wish to call the attention of the city’s mayor to this situation. I urge him to conduct a specific informational campaign about Covid-19 for these populations and, while respecting the principle of voluntary participation in vaccination, to mandate municipal or associative staff (who would travel to various locations) to pre-register them.
These people have often lived in Nice for decades and are part of the populations that we must reach out to and especially not forget.
This is a health issue and a humanitarian issue.
Patrick Allemand, President of Nice au cลur
