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

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At a certain moment at the weekend a girl of twelve was sitting down all alone in front of the psychiatric hospital. We interviewed her and gave her all the necessary care. She couldn’t only give vague indications of her family and she either could make clear why she wanted to stay at us. We tried to find her family with the aid of our personnel. Happily, after a weekend

full of commotion, we could find the members of her family who came to collect her.

In the main time, on Friday 05^th February, we welcomed Bro. André, the new superior of the community in Abidjan accompanied by Bro. Bonaventure. They did not only come to visit the community but also to assist at the celebration with regard to the world day of the consecrated life on the 05^th February in the Our Lady of Peace Basilica. All the Religious of Ivory Coast were on the appointment. The mass was presided by the Apostolic Nuncio.

On Saturday the 13^th February we had the marriage celebration of a member of our personnel, civil as well as religious. All the personnel were prepared for it. On Sunday the 14^th February the mass for the sick in the MSP was led by their spiritual director, animated by the friends of the patients of Yamoussoukro and followed by exchanging gifts. On Saturday the 20^th February a concert was presented by the choral of Saint Bernadette in favor of the sick from the MSP in the cathedral Saint Augustin followed by exchanging of gifts. On Sunday the 28^th February our second Brother from Ivory Coast, Bro. Koffi Laurent, will do his first profession in Ndera. On Saturday the 13^th March will be the start of the activities of the ONG “Light and Life” in the MSP with exchanging of gifts.

Br. Félicien Ngendahimana