VIDEO. In Tunisia, this courageous mayor collected donations to transform a basketball stadium into an anti-Covid unit: "We are saving lives"

She was used to scenes of jubilation from supporters, of tension at the end of matches, of sporting exploits… Today, the basketball hall in the small peaceful suburb of Ezzahra in the south of the Tunisian capital resonates with the sound electrocardiograms and ventilation of oxygen machines, far from the political turmoil in the capital.

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Its mayor, Rayen Hamzaoui, has decided to transform it into a Covid center to accommodate patients in respiratory distress.

“People are dying in the streets, a solution had to be found,” explains the 33-year-old elected official.

In less than a week, it collected around 60,000 euros in donations and recruited dozens of volunteers.

In the African country with the highest death rate linked to Covid-19, his initiative is saving lives.

"Tunisians are always united"

"Here, we have 28 doctors who take turns every two hours to carry out checks," says Rayen Hamzaoui.

In addition to the twenty beds open, this businessman, who has refused any emolument since the start of his mandate, has obtained the medical equipment necessary to receive and treat patients in intensive care.

"We offer them life, the cost does not matter," he adds, adding that in the midst of the crisis, "Tunisians are always showing that they are united".

In mid-July, Tunisia recorded peaks of more than 200 deaths per day linked to Covid-19.

Lack of oxygen in public hospitals, delay in vaccine orders, the health crisis is hitting the country hard.

"We are at war, we have a big problem," says Rayen Hamzaoui.

We don't have any money, so we have to help each other.

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