Hospital overload in Togo: AGASSTO launches awareness campaign

---

Extract from the article: The Association of Health Service Managers and Administrators of Togo (AGASSTO) held a press conference on Monday, September 8, 2025. The aim was to launch an awareness campaign on the organization of the national health system. The project aims to..

---

The Association of Health Service Managers and Administrators of Togo (AGASSTO) held a press conference on Monday, September 8, 2025. The aim was to launch an awareness campaign on the organization of the national health system. The project aims to improve the efficiency and quality of care and services by strengthening the population's understanding of better accessibility.

The Togolese health system is facing a worrying situation. Referral hospitals, such as university hospitals (CHUs), are overwhelmed. They are inundated with patients suffering from common conditions, such as simple headaches, malaria, or abscesses. This influx is due to a failure to respect the pyramid structure of healthcare provision and services.

« Today, our referral hospitals, such as university hospitals, are truly overwhelmed by patients seeking treatment for common conditions. This has serious consequences for these centers. They are struggling to manage these flows effectively. »  lamented Awaté Abide, health services manager and president of AGASSTO. It is therefore essential to refer patients to the appropriate facilities.

The urgent need to inform and raise awareness
Faced with this problem, AGASSTO has decided to take action. The association is launching a major national awareness campaign. It will run for 18 months. The project aims to educate the population about the pyramid-shaped healthcare system. For President Awaté Abide, AGASSTO wants to make it clear to all citizens that the healthcare system works like a step-by-step process. The first point of contact for any health concern should therefore be the local healthcare center, such as the dispensary or neighborhood medical-social center, the prefectural hospital, or the nearest healthcare facility providing first aid. After an initial diagnosis, the healthcare staff at these facilities refer patients to a university hospital or a larger hospital if the case is serious.

This is the simple message that the association will convey in the field throughout this campaign. It will start in Greater Lomé and later extend to the country's five economic regions, through local awareness-raising sessions, broadcasts in local languages, community meetings, and social media posts. « This awareness-raising project is essential for every citizen to understand the role and importance of the inter-hospital referral mechanism. Community support and collaboration will improve the quality of care and save lives, » she strongly emphasized.

Respecting the referral system will help relieve congestion in large hospitals. This will optimize the use of resources and strengthen users' confidence in Togo's healthcare system.

Esther KOLANI