Provide Psychiatric Medications in West Africa

Dear Friends, 

We remain hard at work and active with our partners at Association Saint-Camille (ASC) in Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast. Here are highlights from the 2023 report from Benin. 

By the numbers in 2023 in Benin: 

The 4 reception and treatment centers recorded a total of:

Initial consultations (new patients): 4,927

Total number of hospitalized/residential patients: 5,590

Number of follow-up consultations: 88,412

Of these, 105 patients were taken from the street and 288 brought by firefighters and law enforcement, making a total of 393 patients.

4,581 were reintegrated into families (95.66% of discharges)

96 were discharged to reintegration/rehabilitation centers (2.00%)

The 39 relay centers (outpatient/pop-up clinics) are a great service for the population, in the extent that they allow individuals to avoid long journeys and large travel costs, as well as road hazards and accidents.They received 1,771 new patients and carried out 26,45 consultations.

General medical services and rehabilitation services remain active. Full reports are available on request to the USA affiliate Treatment Not Chains (treatmentnotchains.org@gmail.com).

With a variety of services, ASC continues meeting the need with our assistance. These medical, psychiatric, and social/employment recovery services bring dignity to the lives of so many people in West Africa.         

Dear Friends, 

Thank you for your continued support of psychiatric care in West Africa. Highlights for the year were demonstrated in the numbers of people served. In Togo, per the attached 2022 report, 1556 new patients were welcomed. 1,999 were in hospital and 96% of those patients were reintegrated with their families. Many were employed at the time of first treatment.    

A recent invoice paid by ASC was for $27,000 USD for medications serving Association Saint-Camille (ASC) for 3-4 months. It is a testament to good stewardship of donations and entrepreneurial operations at ASC that these bills are able to be met.  This outlay could not be done without a collective effort of all of the people who care about this vulnerable population and take action to end the inhumane conditions that exist. 

Our partner, MAP International, sent two pallets of medications (psychiatric and general medical) in June to Benin. We are currently coordinating on a shipment of both medications and general supplies.  A new partner has been identified for hospital supplies, also located in the United States.  As much as we can defer costs for medications and other expensive equipment to the integrated general medical, surgical and obstetrical clinics, the more ASC can focus resources on other direct care and services. 

From the United States, two psychiatrists in training and one medical student visited one of the busiest psychiatry clinics at ASC. They were able to witness both the hardships and joys of providing treatment in context. They noted the overcrowded conditions, use of older medications, and that the art therapist asked for help.  The recruitment of volunteers, as well as financial support, is a major component of the goals of our USA affiliate, Treatment Not Chains.   

In 2024, we anticipate the opening of the first Addiction Treatment Center in West Africa in Dassa, Benin. Dr. Nicole Ahongbonon, chief of psychiatry,  is currently receiving additional training in treating substance use disorders and well as in trauma-informed therapies. We are excited to help initiate new treatment programs. 

Your help in bringing dignity to the lives of beneficiaries of ASC and in making mental healthcare a universal human right is very much appreciated.          

Links:

• For more information - USA affiliate - Treatment Not Chains

• Togo Annual Report 2022 (PDF)