I am excited to share that on October 15, 2020 a big dream of mine for Association Saint Camille (ASC) came true. In communication many months ago between myself, and the leadership of Les Amis de la Saint Camille, we decided that a pivotal role for me as an American is to increase global recognition of the work.   I set about spending hours on the internet looking for possible awards for ASC.   When I saw the mission and vision of the Guislain award: Breaking the Chains of Stigma, the choice was obvious to me. Gregoire Ahongbonon has been fighting stigma for the “forgotten of the forgotten” for over thirty years.  After a long application process, I was notified by email in July that he was one of 13 finalists out of 50 candidates from 18 countries. At a later date, before the official announcement, we were told he had won – it was so hard not to tell anyone!  I was both joyful and relieved!  The prize money will be used to help move along the construction of the Addiction Center in Dassa, Benin.

In the words of the presenters:

“Grégoire Ahongbonon embodies the spirit of the Dr. Guislain ‘Breaking the Chains of Stigma’ Award, having both literally and figuratively freed those in West Africa from the shame and burden often associated with mental illness,” said Brother Dr. René Stockman, Superior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity and Chairman of the Museum Dr. Guislain.

“Not only has Grégoire and the Saint-Camille Association improved basic care and treatment for those living with mental illness in West Africa, they have also brought dignity and confidence back into these patients’ lives,” said Husseini K. Manji, M.D., Global Head, Johnson & Johnson Science for Minds.

Gregoire said it well in a heartfelt thank you letter to my husband James and me: “This award will give more credibility to our NGO and comfort to our partners. It is a story of humanity for the happiness of the mentally ill, the great beneficiaries”.

The best moment of all was when Gregoire surprised us with a call from Benin.  With mutual laughter of his limited English and our limited French, it was a moment of shared joy and understood sentiment that I will never forget.

To view the ceremony:  https://youtu.be/A7pMkk9rjew

Jocelyn W. Bonner, MD   11-14-2020

By Jocelyn W Bonner, MD

This man (face obscured) approached the Saint Camille Tokan residential program with his ankles in chains and legs bare in February 2019.  He is confused and fearful.  Gregoire (on the left) is doing what he does best:  talking to him as an equal and working to gain his trust.   The man stayed at Tokan for several months, being cared for by peers and receiving comprehensive mental health treatment.  He is doing well now and attends monthly outpatient visits. Gregoire exemplifies, in every interaction I witnessed with staff and patients, a driving humanity to change the plight of this man and countless others.

Saint Camille supports the training of nurses for 3 years at the School of Public Health in Burkino Faso at a cost of $1800 per year (inclusive of tuition, room and board).  They receive further training in mental health from the volunteer French and Canadian psychiatrists, who visit Benin on a regular basis and maintain availability by phone/video calls.   Please join Gregoire, the visionary founder of Association Saint Camille, in bringing dignity to the mentally ill in West Africa.

This information is current as of April 20, 2020 reported from our partner, Jean-Paul Cyr, President of Friends of Saint Camille in Quebec, Canada. He speaks to Gregoire nearly daily. Situation in Benin is this: there are officially 35 people infected and 5 deaths. In Togo: 43/3 and in Ivory Coast: 654/6. Everyone agrees that it would be better to multiply these numbers…by how much? (10? 100? more?). No one knows.

No patient has COVID-19 infection in any of the centers of Saint Camille. Gregoire equipped the centers with devices to wash hands and to take the temperature of any new patient. Roads are blocked to prevent travel but Gregoire is finding ways around them to deliver supplies and medications. Fear is well established in countries due to the weakness of health services and the difficulty in accessing them.

A large order of medication made by Saint Camille last December in India was delayed until April 8th due to the border closing and airport delays. Gregoire was able to secure a supplement at the Pharmacy of the State of Benin with money from Friends. However, two major medications were missing from the list used especially for the treatment of schizophrenia. Relapses have begun to occur.

As you can see, there are many effects of COVID-19, direct and indirect. Staff salaries are paid out of patient fees for medication.  Due to road blocks some patients cannot get to the clinic to pick up medications forcing a cut in salaries.   Please keep Saint Camille and all of the most vulnerable worldwide in your caring thoughts as I am at this difficult time for all.

Jocelyn W Bonner, MD

By Jocelyn W Bonner, MD

“Returning” to West Africa in January 2020 as an African- American psychiatrist was especially rewarding due to a site visit to Saint Camille Association in Benin. Gregoire, the founder, is gracious and humble, but with a fierce determination to better the lives of the mentally ill.

The most special day for me was seeing patients outdoors, under the palm trees, at the relay station in Ouidah. Relay stations are outpatient clinics set up to see patients primarily in follow-up or new patients to establish a treatment plan. Counseling and medications are options. Saint Camille uses whatever spaces are made available in the community. Parents brought in their 19 year- old daughter. She was short for her age, deaf, blind, intellectually impaired and aggressive since she had a bout of meningitis at age 10. Her mother showed us her hands where she had been bitten by her daughter.  I can still hear her father explaining to us, in English, her father explained there are no services for her “not like in your country.” Suggestions were made regarding medications by the clinic doctor and her father guided her away by her shoulders. He was grateful. I was astonished and sad for her, knowing the US resources that could easily make her life a little better. I met many families whose resilience in taking care of their loved ones left a lasting impression.

More encounters to follow.