By Jocelyn Bonner | Project Leader
Dear Friends,
Once again, we greet you in gratitude for assisting patients in receiving medications for which they would otherwise have no access. Association Saint Camille (ASC) continues to provide treatment to all regardless of ability to pay in Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo.
Patients are provided a mental and physical assessment when admitted to the hospital, residential or outpatient settings. In 2024, Benin welcomed 5,411 new patients to the hospital and performed 82,121 outpatient consultations. An average of 130 residents per day were in residence at the new substance use disorder center in Dassa, Benin.
In Ivory Coast, 458 were admitted to hospital services and 11,000 consultations were performed in 2024. 385,000 meals were served. The data from Togo for 2024 is pending. In addition to medications, social and psychology services are offered. Rehabilitative services in farming, tailoring, hairdressing, large scale baking, and other endeavors are offered to help recovered patients hone their job skills and earn income for themselves and for the center. Over 97% of patients hospitalized return to their families and 1.4 % participate in rehabilitation programs. These numbers remain stable.
The number of people appearing in chains has decreased to 4-5 per year. ASC has become well known and families have sought their help in increasing numbers over the years. There has not been a death by suicide on-site for about 5 years. Spreading the word, which is core to ASC's mission, has been effective.
Cost sharing by ASC is continuing and measures are being taken to see less people in hospital and in their communities as a less expensive option and more user friendly for patients to be seen in their communities. ASC established an additional 12 relay stations (satellite clinics) in Benin in 2024 for a total of 42. 28,000 consultations were conducted at these relay stations in 2024.
Two recent 2025 invoices from medication companies in India demonstrate the increasing costs of goods worldwide due to inflation and the rise in international shipping costs. ASC paid $309,000 USD for 11,000 lbs of 4 outmoded generic medications which will serve patients for about a year. While these numbers sound daunting, all of our contributions are critical for helping defray this cost. We are constantly looking for opportunitues to provide donated modern medications at a reduced shipping cost and have been successful in this regard.
Thank you on behalf of our partners in West Africa.
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