Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire: Multidisciplinary care

A 38-year-old man (we will call Mr. KL in this article) was seen on December 17, 2019 in the vicinity of the Saint Vincent de Paul Psychiatric Hospital, in Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire), wandering around without any place of reference. He was in an advanced state of instability, full of mud, clothes torn and unable to communicate. Our hospital staff member approached him and brought him to our hospital where he was immediately taken in charge by a multidisciplinary team.

He got his hair cut, was given a bath and clothes. This allowed him to have a more human and presentable body. He was also given a meal to recover his strengths and was allowed to rest.

Later a diagnostic revealed that Mr. KL was schizophrenic: he then got adapted medical care. In the following days, he showed clear improvement. This allowed him to be integrated into the hospital community and to participate in individual as well as in group activities. This tri-therapy (medication, activities and social integration) revealed to be efficient as much progress continued to be noticed.

Hôpital psychiatrique Saint Vincent de Paul de Yamoussoukro.

Crédit: Magloire Madjessou

In the meantime, the hospital’s social service had started searching for Mr. KL's acquaintances in the Yamoussoukro city and its outskirts. It turned out that he was from Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, a neighbouring country of Côte d’Ivoire.

Based on this information, a series of actions was set up by the hospital’s teams involved in medical, paramedical and post-hospitalisation care to help him be reunited with his family.

On June 10, 2021, Mr. KL left the hospital after an hospitalisation of almost 1 year and 7 months and joined the Burkinabe community in Yamoussoukro. He then travelled by road to his native land. The social service revealed later on that Mr. KL safely has arrived at home in Ouagadougou and has been reunited with his family.

He has really been restored in his human dignity.