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VOL. 75 (3), 365-372, 2009 IMPLEMENTING A DISPENSARY IN A RURAL AREA IN BENIN...

due to partial financing by volunteer organisations. Also, our centre
specialises in surgery and other pathologies not covered by the
private centres (6).

Compared with data from the WHO and the US Agency for
International development (7, 8), we also found that the principal
reasons for health visits in Benin are, in general, malaria and
respiratory infections (37% and 17%); however, it is important to
consider the large number of undiagnosed patients.

In this first study, we did not include hospitalised patients or
look at patient mortality and seasonal epidemiology. Further studies
should be designed to help determine the importance of this new
private centre on these statistics.

The principles of our service are applicable to any hospital in a
developing country. These principles are national and foreign
investments, a well-trained staff that covers the health problems
not covered already by public services (including new illnesses),
preventive and curative care and effective education in health. Of
course, a detailed evaluation program is also essential to success.
Specific dispensary centres may represent a reasonable solution to a
neglected component of primary health care in many developing
countries, which, although with few health resources, would benefit
from a more rational management than the current system provides.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to thank the catholique Mission in Zagnanado and the
congregation of Hermanas Franciscanas Misioneras de la Divina
Pastora who run the dispensary of Gbemontin and the workers of
the Health Care Centers of Zagnanado, specially: Jacques, Bienvenu,
Ernest, Hortense and Michel.

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and
Innovation thanks to a FPU grant (beca de Formación de Profesora-
do Universitario).

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