Five years after the introduction of palliative medicine in Mauritius, the Mère Marie Augustine Palliative Care Unit is going beyond the walls of the clinic to meet the general public. On February 28 and March 1, the first Caravane des Soins Palliatifs will set off from Sainte-Anne de Stanley Church, Rose-Hill, with a clear mission: to open up dialogue on this still little-known approach to care.
Often shrouded in misunderstanding or apprehension, palliative medicine remains an essential response to serious, incurable illness. Neither a form of relentless treatment nor a form of abandonment, it embodies what the team calls “just care”: accompanying the patient in all his or her dimensions – physical, emotional and spiritual – to relieve pain, alleviate suffering and preserve dignity.
For two days, the public can discover this “third human medicine” alongside preventive and curative medicine. The event is particularly aimed at caregivers, those families often helpless when faced with the illness of a loved one. Practical workshops, discussions with doctors and carers, testimonials, filmed debates and consultation sessions will make up a program designed to provide practical guidance and provide more serene support.
Inaugurated in 2021, the Mère Marie Augustine Palliative Care Unit is a pioneer in the Indian Ocean outside La Réunion. Located at the Clinique Ferrière de Bon Secours in Curepipe, it has 12 individual rooms designed like a home, where families can stay with their loved ones without schedule restrictions. Among its innovations is a therapeutic bath unique on the island – a large bubble bath offering patients moments of soothing well-being.
The interdisciplinary team includes Drs Anne-Sophie Jérôme and Maëva L’Enclume, clinical psychologist Safia Adamjee, as well as four nurses and four orderlies. For Dr L’Enclume, the motivation comes from a simple observation: “Seeing a patient smile again, even in pain, motivates me more than any figures or technical results.” Her colleague, Dr Jérôme, adds: “Palliative medicine involves taking a step further with the person, accompanying them with professionalism while offering care, comfort and serenity.”
As Stéphanie Raghoonauth, General Manager of the Clinic, points out, this Caravan marks the start of a long-term awareness-raising effort. Three more weekends are planned across the island in 2026, with the ambition of fully integrating palliative medicine into Mauritian public consciousness and healthcare practices. The event is free and open to all, with workshops adapted to children, young people and adults. A valuable opportunity to better understand this approach to care and break down the taboos that still surround it.
