Dogta Lafiè Hospital: a national success story

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Extract from the article: Ingrid Awadé, CEO of the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS), said: « health is a powerful vector for socio-economic growth and a factor in poverty reduction ». Despite the efforts that have been made, Togo's health indicators are generally p

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Ingrid Awadé, CEO of the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS), said: « health is a powerful vector for socio-economic growth and a factor in poverty reduction ». Despite the efforts that have been made, Togo's health indicators are generally poor. The hospital is a central health service. It must meet the needs of the population.

It is with a view to bringing the Togolese population up to a high standard of health that the Government, at the instigation of the President of the Republic, has committed itself in the 2025 roadmap to offering identity and guaranteeing health cover and access to basic services for all.

In concrete terms, the Togo 2025 government roadmap, axis one (1), sets out the government's ambition to guarantee health coverage and access to basic services for all.  To achieve this objective, we need concrete commitments and actions on the ground. We must support this ambition and work to make it a reality. We need men and women to work every day so that Togolese communities can enjoy good health conditions.

The Dogta Lafiè Hospital (HDL) project

In 2019, the Head of State laid the foundation stone for an international reference hospital in Agoé-Nyivé. This is the Dogta Lafiè Hospital (HDL).

The ceremony highlighted the fact that this is a project spearheaded by Mrs Ingrid Awadé, the current Director General of the CNSS.From that day to the hospital's inauguration ceremony, the commitment and hard work of an ambitious, close-knit team was evident, despite the challenge posed by the Covid-19 crisis. There were many who thought that this project was a hoax, another political illusion that would never see the light of day. These pessimists were understandable, given that the project was so daunting that it was necessary to be a person of faith, and to work hard and intelligently to achieve the desired result.

An innovative working method that has paid off

In June 2022, at the opening ceremony and capital increase for the HDL, Minister Gilbert Bawara, then in charge of the civil service, labour and social action and in his capacity as Chairman of the CNSS Board of Directors, highlighted the work that had been done to make this project a reality. « The Dogta Lafiè referral hospital, which from the outset was a presidential project supported financially by the CNSS, is helping to raise the quality of healthcare on offer and provide our country with a referral health establishment », said Gilbert Bawara at the start of his speech.In this statement, we can understand the resolute commitment of the CNSS, through its Director General, to making the Head of State's idea a reality from the very beginning of this project.

The project has not been without its difficulties: « following the laying of the foundation stone in 2019 by the Head of State, the CNSS has pursued the construction of this infrastructure with commitment and determination, despite the various contingencies... », declared Minister Gilbert Bawara, at the ceremony to open the capital of the HDL.

Strategic and methodical work

The laying of the foundation stone, the launch of construction work, the opening and increase in capital, the completion of the site, the inauguration of the HDL, the construction and inauguration of the HDL annex of the Renaissance Residence in Wuiti - this is the glowing story of this project. To support all these actions in a professional management, a structure has been set up: « Your Excellency the President of the Republic, for the operation of this reference establishment and in accordance with your vision, the Société de Gestion Hospitalière (SOGEHP) SA was created in January 2019 and is operational with a capital that has been opened in 2022 to private Togolese investors », announced Ingrid Awadé, in her speech on 26 April 2023, during the HDL inauguration ceremony.

Dogta Lafiè, a national success story

When we look at this project from its inception to its completion, we see a commitment by the sons and daughters of Togo, and an inclusive approach that is a source of national pride. In addition to its contribution to the treatment of pathologies, the Dogta Lafiè hospital has also had other positive consequences, including the economic impact in terms of direct and indirect employment. It has also had an impact on the education and training levels of medical practitioners, nursing staff and medical equipment maintenance technicians.

The Dogta-Lafiè referral hospital is the fruit of a vision, of a social policy of financial investment of the CNSS reserves to balance and perpetuate the general social security system.

A personal commitment

« We were motivated by the desire of His Excellency the President of the Republic to bring health closer to the people », said the CNSS CEO at the inauguration ceremony for the Dogta Lafiè Annex of the Résidence Renaissance in Wuiti (Lomé).

Mrs Ingrid Awadé's personal commitment and determination are to be commended throughout this project. It's a huge task that some people describe as « work and leadership in the shadows ».

It was for this reason that she had the honour of presenting the technical characteristics of the HDL and all the opportunities it offers at the inaugural ceremony. And she did it well. 

We can understand Mrs Awadé's humility, gratitude and expression of faith in her speech at the HDL inauguration ceremony: "I would like to express my gratitude to you once again, Your Excellency, President of the Republic, for this opportunity given to the CNSS to participate in the realisation of this vision, which is essentially focused on the development and individual and collective well-being of the Togolese people, and on the modernisation of our country's infrastructure. I praise Divine Providence for this work that you have just offered to the Togolese people, and I dedicate it to His glory.

The historical annals of the HDL will remember the CNSS as the structure that anchored the achievement and determination of a woman who took it upon herself to support the vision of the Head of State for the common good.  She is an example to follow.  Togo needs its sons and daughters to develop. Every Togolese, whatever his or her social position, can contribute to the realisation of works or ambitions for the common good.

Gamé KOKO