How it started...Historical background

It was about 10 years ago when the Brothers of Charity received an invitation from the local authorities to start a psychiatric facility in Yamoussoukro. It was uncommon to walk in the large roads of the city of Yamoussoukro without coming across a psychiatric patient rooming around either naked or wondering without anyone showing any concern or interest. Yamoussoukro is the political capital city of Cote d’Ivoire, located at about 150 miles (240 Km) from Abidjan, the economic capital city. Yamoussoukro is a rather quiet city compared to Abidjan. It is well known by its magnificent Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the largest basilica in the world.

The Brothers of Charity were known to have a specialty in taking care of individuals with mental challenges. Due to the needs that were spotted in the area, the Brothers of Charity opened a psychiatric center to welcome those individuals that nobody cared for. This was on November 6th, 2002.

The center was named after Saint Vincent de Paul, a French priest and a founder of a religious congregation of the Sisters of Charity that take care of the sick and the abandoned. St. Vincent de Paul has also a special place for the Brothers of Charity being the Patron Saint of the Congregation. The used to be a bush where nobody dared to pass for fear of being chased by an angry snake was soon to be transformed to a beautiful city of hope. A city of hope indeed because everyone who comes into the center goes out healed, changed, transformed to the better.

The hospital has the capacity of accommodating about 32 patients (with acute mental illnesses) with a consultation unit for ambulatory patients. With the increase of chronic patients without support, a rehabilitation center was added to provide an accommodation to those patients who had no family or support system to rely on. The center welcomes both male and female patients, with various ranges of ages, regardless of their religious or cultural beliefs. Next to the hospital, a convent was built to house the Brothers of Charity who are involved in the care of patients.

Follow us for the next article about the different therapeutic activities and departments within the hospital.

Jean-Clement Ishimwe, f.c