The man is elegantly dressed. He walks by the side of his wife. He says that he is tired. He then collapses. Curious people swarm around the fallen man. They watch on as he opens his mouth, try to press his chest. The man is dying …

Those who watch in awe know that it is possible to save his life. They would have saved him, only if they could. But no one amongst them has ever been trained in cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

It is not advisable to meet with accidents or heart arrest in Mauritius. Mauritians are scandalously impotent when faced with road or domestic accidents or with cardiac arrest. Less than 1% of the population has a knowledge of first aid and CPR, a very long way from the 95% of Norway or the 80% of Austria.

Many Mauritians are eager to master CPR and first aid. But those who can impart this type of knowledge, the Mauritian Red Cross for example, charge over one thousand rupees for a first aid course. So, only those in dire need of a first aid certificate for job application will opt for the course.

A pitiful situation in a country in which emergency ambulance services take a minimum of 30 minutes to reach accident spots. This delay is too long in case of heart arrest, but also in case of hemorrhage, allergic reactions, suffocation or asphyxia

On Sunday last, the well-dressed man had a chance. Two doctors were around, in a blood donation caravan on the parking lot of the supermarket where the man collapsed. They started CPR, cardiac massage and mouth to mouth artificial respiration lasted for some minutes. They did not insist much before covering the well-dressed man from head to toes with a white cloth.

But one should not draw the curtain so rapidly on sudden death. Does anyone remember Fabrice Muamba? In March last year, we watch live as he collapsed at White Hart Lane after a massive heart attack during the FA cup quarter final. He in fact “died”. His heart did not beat for one hour. But those who provided CPR to him did not stop, they continued heart massage and artificial breathing for more than 45 minutes. Four days later he left hospital,fitted with an implantable convertible defibrillator, or ICD, to monitor and regulate his heartbeat.

ICD implants which have been saving thousands of lives around the world are not available in Mauritius and the only Mauritian who has had such an implant has been fitted in Paris.

Even external defibrillator which is to-day found in most airports, supermarkets or stations in Europe and the United States is not available in the emergency department of most of our hospitals.

A medical aberration in a country which is presently going through a peak of cardiovascular diseases, heart attack and sudden deaths. A medical aberration when one has to wait for six months for a stress test in hospitals.

No wonder then that many more will know the same fate as the well-dressed man. Taken away by sudden death, without having shown any symptom  prior to their demise.