Togo
The country is very underdeveloped economically. Its economy relies mainly on agriculture, which generates about 18% of the GDP and employs roughly 30% of the working population. Togo ranks among the countries with the lowest level of social development.
Overview:
- poverty is widespread, especially in rural areas, where about 58.8% of households live below the poverty line; in urban areas, the rate is about 26.5%
- key factors driving poverty include food insecurity (over 23% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition), limited access to health care, unemployment, and insufficient job opportunities, especially for young people
Every year, the pharmacy helps around
3750
patients
13.09.2018
The pharmacy of Saint Frydolin, operating in the north of Togo, has helped nearly 700 people over the past two months. The supply of medicines purchased earlier this year is slowly running out. We are facing the important task of stocking up the pharmacy shelves for the second part of the year.
Every year, our project is the only chance for recovery for over 4,000 people. Patients come to our pharmacy with prescriptions and receive their medicine in exchange for a symbolic bowl of corn. In turn, we collect the food they bring and distribute it to those who are unable to provide food for their families during the dry season. As such, we not only heal but also feed the community. To make this possible, we supply the pharmacy with medicines twice a year. Two years ago, Pope Francis, who took a liking to this form of aid for the residents of northern Togo, provided his support for this project.
The project is led by our missionary Gosia Tomaszewska. She has just sent us a list of required medicine for the second half of the year. There are 42 items on the list she submitted. These are primarily antimalarial drugs, painkillers, various types of antibiotics, anesthetics, antifungals, steroids, and vitamins. The total cost amounts to 4,000 EUR.
These pictures show Marcel, who frequently comes to St. Fridolin to use the services provided by the pharmacy. Marcel is a freshman in high school. He lives in Tchoou, a few kilometers from the pharmacy. The boy has chronic health problems but he knows that when he gets sick and shows up at the pharmacy, we will always help him. For this, he is very grateful to you.
The boy suffers from a very common disease in this part of the world. During harmattan – a dry season that brings strong winds from the Sahara – his arthritis flares up. His ailment impairs his mobility and results in him having to miss school. His body seizes up and remains partially paralyzed. Each year, the first winds from the north make Marcel feel anxious. Who knows what would happen to the boy and the hundreds of local residents who rely on our help if they didn’t have access to the pharmacy.
