O-23 Innovative mobile medical consultations: a scalable public health solution for communities affected by sargassum seaweed
Author(s):
J Florentin, R Banydeen, R Neviere, D Resiere
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To assess the public health relevance, feasibility,
and clinical impact of a community-based mobile medical
consultation (MMC) model developed to improve access
to care for populations chronically exposed to toxic gases
emitted by decomposing sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted among patients managed through specialized sargassum toxicological consultations in Martinique between January 2021 and July 2025. Two care delivery models were compared: hospital-based outpatient consultations and mobile, community-based consultations deployed directly within affected coastal communities. Sociodemographic characteristics, exposure profiles, clinical findings, respiratory function tests (spirometry), markers of bronchial inflammation (fractional exhaled nitric oxide, FeNO), referral pathways, and follow-up care were analyzed to evaluate health system performance and clinical effectiveness.
Results: During the study period, among the 478 patients chronically exposed to sargassum decomposition fumes, mobile consultations accounted for the majority of care delivery (55.0%). Mobile teams were preferentially deployed during active sargassum stranding episodes (58.6% vs 11.2% for hospital-based consultations; p<0.001) and in the most heavily impacted and underserved coastal areas. Patients managed through mobile consultations were older, more socially vulnerable, and had longer exposure durations. They also presented with more severe respiratory involvement, including higher rates of airway obstruction (20.4% vs 10.1%; p=0.007) and elevated FeNO levels (26.5 ± 16.7 vs 6.7 ± 19.9 ppb; p<0.001). Mobile consultations facilitated timely clinical assessment, therapeutic education, follow-up, and referral to specialized care.
Conclusion: Mobile medical consultations constitute a scalable public health innovation that strengthens access to environmental health care for populations chronically exposed to sargassum-related pollution. By shifting care delivery from hospital settings to communities, this model improves equity, responsiveness during environmental crises, and integration within a One Health framework. It serves as a transferable strategy for Caribbean health systems facing recurrent climate-induced environmental challenges such as sargassum seaweed.