Dr. Koffi Tengue, hard at work. Photo used with permission.
One Child’s Tragedy, and a Son’s Grief,
Spurred the Founding of Togo’s ORJEDEC
By Alison Ramsey
IAHPC Newsletter Editor
Kokou Sena Ague, treating a homecare patient, is ORJEDEC’s Program Manager as well as president of Togo’s National Association of Nurses. Photo used with permission.
Two events decided Koffi Tengue’s path in life. When he was seven years old, a child bitten by a snake died while the child’s father dashed home to get money for treatment, which the health center refused to provide before payment; and when he was a first-year med student, he watched his mother die of cancer—“an unforgivable disease.”
In response, in 1997 he joined with others to found Organisation Jeunesse pour le Développement Communautaire (Youth Organization for Community Development), or ORJEDEC, in Kouvé, his village in Togo.
A provider, trainer & advocate
ORJEDEC has matured to become an effective palliative care provider for children and adults, trainer of health care professionals and caregivers, and advocate locally, nationally, and internationally. Its achievements as a non-governmental organization have been nurtured through partnerships and support from—among others—Togo’s Ministry of Health, its National Association of Nurses, Hospice Africa Uganda, the African Palliative Care Association, and the IAHPC.
ORJEDEC by the numbers
20,700 palliative care patients cared for in 7 ORJEDEC centers
25,800 home care visits
23, 800 visits in health care institutions
8,700 nutrition kits distributed to patients
medical and paramedical health care professionals trained in palliative care
caregivers trained in palliative care
Although ORJEDEC is based in Kouvé, a region of 25,000 people, its national partnerships translate into a country-wide influence to benefit 8.2 million citizens.
A trio of key activities
Its three key activities are: promotion of palliative care, prevention of serious diseases (such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, etc.), and nutrition and counselling.
Shortly before this story was published, a fire at one of ORJEDEC's locations destroyed all the stored pharmaceuticals, a computer, and printer. Photo used with permission.
Its three palliative care experts (trained by Hospice Africa Uganda), two doctors, 14 nurses, a mental health specialist, a psychologist, two pastors, a sociologist, and 41 community-based volunteers cover a lot of ground. They meet and counsel patients at seven palliative care centers that cover the two largest regions of Togo as well as doing home care. They are working with the national association of nurses to provide services to out-of-area residents: in the meantime, they connect to other regions using WhatsApp, Facebook, and by phone.
ORJEDEC’s current mandate includes treating those with chronic and progressive diseases, as well as vulnerable patients suffering from COVID-19, in their homes and at private and public health care institutions.
It joined with SOS Soins Palliatifs in Togo in an ongoing effort to advocate for improved health insurance to help those with serious pathologies and limited prognosis, especially the neglected, frail elders, and the most financially fragile residents.
Future plans
ORJEDEC’s plans include advocating for improved availability of morphine, integrating palliative care into educational curricula, and establishing a hospice serving West Africa. Another focus is to continue training caregivers in rural areas. The need, says, Dr. Tengue, is real and immediate; with a population of more than 7 million, Togo has 32,200 cases of cancer and HIV/AIDS.
Most important, however, is that “we do everything we can, with love, because a job well done is always satisfying.”
Help us to help others: IAHPC's annual fundraiser!
How your gift supports the IAHPC mission
Achieved: $24,941
Goal: $30,000
83%
Education
Your gift funds the operational costs of our online courses taught by globally recognized experts who volunteer their time and provide educational resources relevant to palliative care topics. It also supports scholarships that enable palliative care workers to attend educational events and congresses, and allows us to maintain Pallipedia, the free, live, online dictionary.
The goal of this pillar is to implement strategies, resources and tools that will improve the competencies of the global workforce for appropriate palliative care delivery. We have two programs under this pillar plus many other resources for our members.
Your gift enables us to build and strengthen the partnerships that accelerate global, regional, and national advocacy for palliative care. We advocate for its integration into primary health care under universal health coverage and effective access to essential palliative care medicines and packages for people of all ages. Your gift supports our work to prepare delegates and participate in technical consultation meetings of the relevant UN organizations.
The goal this pillar is the integration of palliative care into primary health care within the spectrum of universal coverage to improve access to adequate care for patients in need. We offer the following to our members:
Documents on Human Rights and Access to Medicines and Care
Research
Your gift enables us to continue doing research that provides guidance and recommendations for action, based on responses from the global palliative care community. Such research includes our recent evaluation of the impact of euthanasia and assisted dying practices on palliative care workers and the use of essential medicines for palliative care. It also supports the costs of publications focused on research relevant to palliative care.
The goal of this pillar is to design and implement projects that lead to the integration of palliative care into health policies, resolutions, and key documents. Our studies help us provide guidance and recommendations, and take action based on the responses from the global palliative care community.
Your membership enables you to participate in IAHPC projects such as the:
Your gift enables us to continue our in-depth reporting and book reviews in Pallinews, as well as media campaigns that raise awareness about the need to increase access to care and support for patients and families.
We are a small organization that allocates over 80% of our budget to mission driven programs and to the maintenance of our free website. We need operational funding to continue the work.
Give a gift, get a gift
IAHPC members: When you gift a 2-year membership to a colleague in a low- or middle-income country, we extend your membership by 6 months.