PROJECT DETAILS

The purpose of the Project:

To establish facilities to improve mental health care to guests in remote areas with no psychiatric care facilities (Kolda in Senegal). 

Brief description 

The Hospitaller Order arrived in Senegal in 1975 at the invitation of the local bishop, and began its apostolate at the St Jean de Dieu Hospital in Thiès.

A few years later, in response to the needs, the Brothers became involved in caring for people suffering from mental disorders or illnesses, founding a Centre in Thiès in 1995. Seven years later, with a very high occupancy rate and a large number of guests, the challenge was to open another centre in Fatick, 120 km away, in 2003.

From the outset, both centres offered mental health consultations to all, as well as in-patient care for those whose condition required it, and admitted, treated and rehabilitated patients.

Some years later, the centres began decentralising primary mental health care, beginning with visits to different towns around the country to bring care closer to the people. Our centres' guests come from areas far away from any existing mental health services. 

Today, our two Dalal-Xel centres provide outpatient care to more than 75,000 patients from all the regions of Senegal and beyond. Our care teams travel long distances on arduous roads, so we wish to find drop-off points where they can better serve the local communities in need.

The project will run a care, prevention and education programme on risks associated with mental illness, giving support and publicising the service among disadvantaged communities.

Expected results

1. Improved access to mental health care

2. Finding sites to manage consultations in remote areas

3. Reducing stigmatisation

4. Promoting well-being and mental health

5. Preventing mental disorders and illnesses

6. Improving the mental health skills of the care staff

7. Intersectoral collaboration with members of the community

8. Involving communities in combating the risk factors

9. Research and evaluation

10. Improving people's quality of life

 

Estimated project cost

196 000 000 F CFA, equivalent to EUR 300 000.