Des Roches said the St. Camille model of care fulfills WHO recommendations for extending care in underserved areas: It uses community workers, regardless of education level, to diagnose and treat priority patients under the supervision of skilled personnel. The skilled personnel are trained with manuals that use the local language, avoiding scientific jargon. A limited number of affordable medications are used, and community workers have access to referral services for the most difficult patients.
In presenting the Chester M. Pierce Human Rights Award, APA President Vivian Pender, M.D., called Ahonbonon an inspiration. “As the founder of the Association Saint Camille de Lellis, Grégoire has helped transform the landscape of mental health care in West Africa. Through his dedicated leadership and guidance, over 130,000 individuals in Benin, Togo, and the Ivory Coast have benefitted from mental health services, including psychiatric care, many of whom would otherwise be turned away by society. His efforts bring dignity to a marginalized population and address the need for community mental health services worldwide.” ■
Originally established in 1990 as the APA Human Rights Award, it was renamed in 2017 to honor Chester M. Pierce, M.D., an innovative researcher; an advocate against mental health disparities, stigma, and discrimination; and a visionary in global mental health. In 2021, the award was endowed by the APA Foundation’s Chester M. Pierce Human Rights Endowment Campaign. This year’s lecture was the first under the endowment.
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