"Inhumane" Scene Unfolds at Post Office in Capital
A patient suffering from cancer, weakened by a grueling chemotherapy and radiation treatment, visited a post office in the capital to withdraw a CNAM mandate. Accompanied by a friend who assisted her at the counter, she was too exhausted to handle the administrative tasks alone.
As per standard procedure, the companion handed over the patient's ID card to the agent handling the case to verify the identity on the mandate matched the one on the official document. However, what was supposed to be a simple administrative formality quickly turned into a humiliating scene.
After scrutinizing the ID card for an extended period and then intently looking at the ailing young woman, the agent declared, in front of everyone present, that she "didn't look anything like" the person in the photo on the document, thus refusing to hand over the mandate amount. Disheartened and deeply hurt by these words, the patient attempted to explain and convince the agent that her illness and treatments had altered her physical appearance, causing significant weight loss.
Despite these explanations, the agent showed no compassion for the patient's suffering and distress, remaining unyielding and refusing to hand over the mandate. Profoundly wounded in her dignity, the patient was overcome with hysteria and removed the veil covering her head to reveal her balding head, a painful gesture driven by her ultimate desire to convince the agent of her identity.
The intervention of a colleague of the agent only added to the deep unease and sense of humiliation felt by the young woman. Exhausted both physically and morally, she eventually left the premises without receiving her mandate, deeply marked by this experience, which she felt was an affront to her dignity.
This incident raises questions about the welcome extended to citizens within public services, particularly when it comes to vulnerable individuals facing illness. While administrative procedures must be respected, they cannot justify a treatment devoid of empathy and humanity.
In an era where public institutions are called upon to improve the quality of their services and their relationships with users, such behavior appears to be in stark contrast to the principles of respect and dignity that every public service is supposed to guarantee.
