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GRGOIRE with LONIE(ex-patient), HER DAUGHTER AND A PATIENT

email : info@amis-st-camille.org web site : www.amis-st-camille.org phone numbers : 450-565-8290

450-479-1172

514-334-6147

mailto:info@amis-st-camille.orgmailto:info@amis-st-camille.orghttp://www.amis-st-camille.org/http://www.amis-st-camille.org/http://www.amis-st-camille.org/mailto:info@amis-st-camille.org

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Association Saint-CamilleTheAssociation Saint-Camille-de-Lellis is an African charity organization that

provides services to the mentally ill. It was founded in Ivory Coast in 1991. In 2004, itwas also implemented in Benin.

According to the African understanding, a mental patient is possessed by thedevil, bewitched. This is the way his delirium and his unusual, strange behavior areinterpreted. Everyone stays away, nobody wants to touch the ill person for fear of beingbewitched in his turn. In town, the ill person wanders, helpless and left alone; peoplemove away, abandon him to his fate. In villages, he is chained to a tree at the boundaryof the village and remains there until his death.

Through the hard work of its founder, Grgoire Ahongbonon, surrounded by ateam he has built around him, ten centers in Ivory Coast and four in Benin are currentlyoperating. Patients are taken charge of in a centre where they are diagnosed by apsychiatrist, treated and surrounded by caregivers (former patients) who ensure medical

care, affection and who help reestablish the patients self-esteem. After a few months andbased on the patients personal evolution, he is directed to a Work Centre (orRehabilitation Centre) in the community to learn an occupation and begin his integrationinto social life. When he is ready, he is then reinstated in his home community (village,neighborhood). An external network provides medication and ensures medical follow-upin the community. More than 20,000 men and women have benefited from theorganization and have now been active in their community.The Association Saint-Camille relies only on donations to operate. No government funding is forthcoming.

Les Amis de la Saint-Camille

We are a Canadian non-governmental organization formed by a small group ofQuebecer volunteers (Les Amis de la Saint-Camille Friends of Saint-Camille)committed since 2001 to support the work of our African partner.Through fundraising,research, sending medical equipment and medicine, presenting projects for internationalcooperation organizations, sending trainees and trainers, etc., we are trying to developnetworks of mutual assistance and cooperation in Ivory Coast and Benin.

Our current projects and our recent achievements are: Contributing to the building of an hospital in Adjarra, Benin (work in progress) Sending containers of medicine and medical equipment

Funding a juice workshop in Avrankou, Benin Sending trainees and trainers in Benin and Ivory Coast Purchasing generic drugs from IDA, in Holland Increasing awareness in Quebec of the situation of mentally ill patients in Africa Fundraising campaigns to meet the needs of our African partner

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In Benin (West Africa)

TheAssociation Saint-Camille has developed: An Accommodation Centre and a Work Centre in Avrankou, a town located in

the outskirts ofPorto-Novo

An Accommodation Centre and a farm dedicated to agricultural learning andbreeding inBohicon (farm supported by the Lilian Foundation in Holland) An Accommodation Centre inDjougou (construction financed by the Bretons) New admissions in Accommodation Centres in 2010: 2,035

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In Ivory Coast (West Africa)

The Association Saint-Camille has developed:

An Accommodation Centre and a Work Centre inKorhogo An Accommodation Centre and a Work Centre inBondoukou Two Accommodation Centres, one hospital and three Work Centres inBouake,

the foundation place of the Association Saint-Camille in 1991 In 2010, 1546 new patientswere admitted to the Accommodation Centres

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An example of an effort to self-sufficiency: the juice workshop

A strong value of Saint-Camille, promoted by its founder, Grgoire Ahongbonon,is that of self-sufficiency. That is, being able to finance at least the operation of thecenters thanks to the generosity of foreign benefactors from Europe and Canada. For

example, the hospital in Bouak in Ivory Coast is largely supported by the sale of glasses.In Accommodation Centers and Work Centers, some income is earned by weaving,breeding, embroidery, gardening, palmgrove, bread oven, etc. Theses activities alsoserve as a means to reinforce the participants self-esteem and to foster theirreintegration into village life. However it is clearly insufficient. Grgoire fails to coverthe two major daily expenses of food and medication for those who are in the program(medicine must be provided to both patients who are accommodated as well as to peoplewho have returned to their community).

Les Amis de la Saint-Camille in Quebec have joined a project that works in thisdirection. The project involves helping to fund a juice workshop This workshop has beenneeded for a while by our African partner. This equipment will ensure not only an

additional source of income for the organization of Saint-Camille and for thesurrounding population, but will also serve a means of rehabilitation.This workshop involves the use of a commercial juice maker designed for small

businesses, manufactured by the French company ''Perche Activits'. It transformsmango, pineapple or citrus into pasteurized, bottled juice, ready to be sold on the marketat a rate of 200 liters per hour.

Fruits will be bought from the villagers in the region surrounding the BohiconAccommodation Center (located in south-central Benin), then transported to theworkshop site of the Danbodji Work Center (near Avrankou), a Porto-Novo suburb.From there, it will be transformed and sold in grocery stores and public markets in thelarge region of Cotonou and Porto-Novo. The French company is committed to sellingany surplus to the European market. The company will provide initial training to start thesmall business. As in all other activities, it is the recovering patients who are in theprocess of rehabilitation or the former patients (a source of income for them too) whowill ensure the operations.Thus, the workshop is another place where the patients canregain the work habits they had lost because of their social exclusion and where they candevelop new knowledge that will be useful when they return to the community.

The cost of this equipment, its installation and implementation in Benin is$70,000.00. Fondation Distal of Quebec donated $ 20,000.00 in installments over nextthree years. An anonymous donor has paid $ 10,000.00.The difference wascompensated by occasional small donations, fundraising, money collections at churches,etc.

Equipment has been bought. We are waiting for it to be transported from Franceand then installed near the Avrankou Accommodation Centre, located in a Porto-Novosuburb. Les Amis de la Saint-Camille are financing its transportation, installation, andstorage, as well as the training provided by the French company to the local manpower.The small company should start operating in the spring of 2012.

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Contribution to the construction of Adjarra Hospital in Benin

Brief presentation of the project:

One problem is that of ensuring the general and specific health care for thepatients. As mentioned earlier, people with mental health problems are perceived asbeing possessed by the devil and by evil spirits. Nobody wants to touch them for fear ofbeing bewitched. Delirium, change of behavior, aggressive behavior and bizarreattitudes are frightening. In town, they wander, helpless and left to themselves, andpeople stay away from them. In villages, they are chained to a tree at the boundaries ofthe village and remain there until they die. Sometimes, they are entrusted to ''prayercentres belonging to sects in exchange for payment. In these centres, they are chainedto a tree, deprived of food and water for days, and flogged, since it is believed that thedevil will leave their body and therefore they will be cured.These men and womenremain attached for many years (there was a woman who had been 'blocked to a tree

for 36 years!) and often until death. Families usually give them only small quantities offood.

Even in state hospitals these patients are abandoned, neglected or refusedbecause they are feared. As solution, the Association Saint-Camille-de-Lellis built itsown hospital in Bouake (Ivory Coast) in 1997. This hospital offers general practiceservices, ophthalmology with an optical shop, as well as dentistry services and a medicallaboratory. This is where the residents from Saint-Camille centers in the Ivory Coastreceive the regular healthcare they require given their poor health condition. Thishealthcare is especially needed when they arrive.This hospital is also open to the entirepopulation of the city at little or no cost if people cannot pay. In spite of this service to

the greater community, the hospital remains self-sustainable.

The Association Saint-Camille faces the same problem in Benin. Les Amis de laSaint-Camille (in Canada) are mobilizing to build a day hospital on the Adjarra site,near Porto-Novo, and will make sure that the first year of operation gets off to a goodstart. A global project of $569,000.00 for next three years. Construction of generalpractice, maternity pavilions and the incinerator is begun since december 2011. Thesewill complete the hospitals site where the Ophthalmology Centre and Optical shop arelocated. Rooms in these pavilions will be temporarily used for radiology, echography,dentist, laboratory analysis and pharmacy services. Employees training (including threenew nurses), operation costs during first year, containers sending are provided for in the

budget. After the start up year, the hospital will become self-sufficient, just like theBouak hospital in Ivory Coast.

With the help of a partnership with Collaboration Sant Internationale (CSI, aNGO of Qubec city), the Ministre des Relations Internationales of Qubec governmenthas given a $200,000.00 amount to the project. CSI will provide medicine, material formedical care and medical equipment for the first year of operations (estimated value

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$180,000.00). The balance ($189,000.00) is the business of Les Amis de la Saint-Camille: we have to get it. In annexe, details of the budget are available.

The Association Saint-Camille benefits from a formal support of the incumbentauthorities (mayor, Benin Ministry of Health, archbishop), but it is a non-financialsupport (mayor, however, donated a four acres land for the site).The Association reliesonly on donations, philanthropy and charity from individuals, religious communities,small groups of people supporting the organization in Canada (especially in Quebec),France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Switzerland. And it works!

All the work will be done by our African partner, the Association Saint-Camille-de- Lellis, who already has experience in this area (this is the15th centre) and ofimplementation of similar services.This application is mainly theirs, since that is wherethey are in the development of services for mentally ill in Benin. They have proved fornearly twenty years their ability to establish, in spite of everyone, services that surpassour own mental health services (life environment, continuum of services, socialintegration, peer helpers, etc ...). Our Canadian contribution will be to support them in

achieving their services.

Three doctors and two midwives will ensure the functioning of the hospital. Theseprofessionals, hired by the Association Saint-Camille, will provide appropriatecounselling, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up to patients,both for the generalpopulation and for the mental patients in the centres of Saint-Camille. The Beningovernment supports this project (without funding it) and has already put on paper thatthis hospital will be designated as the area hospital for the entire Adjarra commune (apopulation of about 110,000).

Since October 25th 2009, the Ophthalmology Centre has been operating on the

hospital site. Ophthalmic equipment from the Centre de Sant et de Services Sociaux(health and social services centre) in Rimouski was sent.This material is out of datein Quebec but valuable there.The establishment of this service along with the opticalshop is an important funding source for the future hospital (by selling eyeglassesreceived from Europe).That's why it was chosen as the first building on the site. Anopticianry technician was trained and cuts glass.A Beninese ophthalmologist directs theservice.Cataract surgery is performed at this centre.

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Needs

Funding for the construction of Adjarra Hospital: $569,000.00 (see the details inthe appendix)

Sending a container of medical equipment and medicine to Benin throughCollaboration Sant Internationale (International Health Cooperation) inQuebec: $ 11,000.00

Accommodating a patient in a Saint-Camille centre (fed, housed and medicated)for one day: $ 5.00

Buying a 50 kg-rice bag : $ 30.00

Buying, planting and maintaining an oil palm: $20.00

Buying generic neuroleptics (mental health) from IDA in Holland: $ 5,000.00 Training of a nursing student during a year in Burkina Faso (courses,

accommodation): $ 1,700.00

All donation cheques are payable to Les Amis de la Saint-Camille and should be sentto the following address: 2, rue de la Marina, Oka, Qc, Canada J ON 1EO. It isalso possible to make a donation by credit card or monthly automatic transfer (check ourwebsite and look for the Faire un don icon, or call 450-565-8290 to get the donationform). A tax receipt will be issued for any donation of $10.00 or more.

Our website: www.amis-st-camille.org

http://www.amis-st-camille.org/http://www.amis-st-camille.org/http://www.amis-st-camille.org/

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Who are we?

More than 1200 Friends in Canada (especially in Quebec) receive three times a year acommunication from the Board of Trustees of Friends of Saint-Camille. At one time or

another, they have brought an interest, a contribution, a support to this African cause.About ten people form the core group that is particularly active in different roles. All arevolunteers and the most "fierce" members of the team form the board of trustees; they areretired and therefore have time. All donations are sent directly to Benin and IvoryCoast.Minor transportation and phone expenses are part of their voluntary commitment.

And who are board members of Les Amis?

J ean-Paul Cyr (President): retired psycho-educator, former middle manager inthe social services network, stays in Ivory Coast and in Benin (1970-72, 2009,2011) -450-565-8290

Marie-J os Filion (Vice-President): retired occupational therapist, stays indifferent developing countries including Benin (2009, 2011) -514-334-6147

J acqueline Gingras (Secretary): former investment broker, career in the financialmarket and administration analyst. -450-565-8290

Denis Renaud (Treasurer): former establishment director in the health network,stays in Ivory Coast and Benin (1997, 2001, 2011) -450-479-1172

Suzanne Renaud (Administrator): former community organizer, stays in IvoryCoast and Benin (1997, 2001, 2011) -450-479-1172

Dr. Andr Boisjoly (Administrator): radiologist, stays in several developingcountries including Benin (2009, 2011) -514-334-6147

J ean-Bernard Garipy (Administrator): education in sociology, geographicformation system and public health, stays in Gabon, Ivory Coast and BurkinaFaso (2000-2001, 2002, 2011), -514-506-8508

The action of Les Amis de la Saint-Camille has resulted in developing a network ofpeople, acquaintances and organizations in Canada, who are able to provide three typesof resources to our African partner:

Human: trainees, professional support, on-site training Material: medical and nursing equipment, medicine, construction of centres,

wells, etc. ... financial: purchase of medicine from IDA (Netherlands), funding for the juice

workshop, payment for training, food for patients (waiting for food self-sufficiency)

Annexes to the Adjarra hospital project

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About the construction:

The buildings will be constructed on one storey. Their general framework will be made of

reinforced concrete. The floor will be made of concrete slabs. Its construction includesthe installation of appliances and sanitary facilities. Rooms, doctors' offices and livingrooms will be air conditioned.

Any monetary contribution will be covered by an invoice showing the costsincurred. The Association and our Quebec organization are committed to ensure strictaccounting control of the work and supporting documentation for all expendituresincurred.Account statements, invoices and photos will be available and will be sentregularly to donors on request.

General practice pavilion:A seven-room building with a consulting room, care room, waiting room, doctors office,nurses office, and a terrace.Cost: $133,000.00

Maternity pavilion:A six-room building with a delivery room, predelivery room, consulting room, twowaiting rooms, midwifes office, gynecologists office, nurses office and a terrace.

Cost: $130,000.00

Incinerator:A Monfort-type incinerator made of refractory concrete blocks (burnt bricks) for thedestruction of biomedical waste.

Cost: $3,000

Operation costs during the first year:

Medical staff : 1 permanent doctor $8,000.00 2 term doctors $7.000.00 1 senior nurse $3,000.00 2 junior nurses $4,000.00 2 midwives $6,000.00 3 nursing auxiliaries $3,000.00

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Total : $31,000.00

Administrative staff: 1 director $8,000.00 1 teller $3,000.00 1 chief maintenance $2,000.00 2 administrative agents $2,000.00

Total: $15,000.00

Training:

3 nurses during 3 years $15,000.00 Hospital management (complementary) $3,000.00 Natural helpers $4,000.00

Total: $22,000.00

Summary of the projects costs:

Construction.. $266,000.00 Medicine, medical equipment . $180,000.00 Operations (first year)....... $46,000.00Training. $22,000.00Transport, containers, administrative costs $55,000.00

___________

Grand total : $569,000.00

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The Ophtalmological Center and Optical shop Digging for the foundations (12/01/25)

Foundations of the general practice pavilion Supporting walls (12/02/11)

Pouring the floor Rising the walls (april 12)