Niger health minister inspects Niger-türkiye friendship hospital operations

Colonel-major Garba Hakimi, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, undertook an inspection tour of the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The primary goal of this visit was to personally evaluate the state of the hospital’s infrastructure and equipment, understand the working conditions of its staff, and engage in direct dialogue with employees to identify their challenges and formulate appropriate solutions.

Upon his arrival, the Minister embarked on a comprehensive tour, exploring various key departments within the medical facility. These included the emergency services, mammography department, surgical operating theaters, the intensive care unit for newborns, laboratories dedicated to embryology and oocyte retrieval, and the gynecology and obstetrics ward. Following this guided inspection, the ministerial delegation received a detailed presentation outlining the hospital’s background, achievements, current needs, and existing deficiencies, before the Minister engaged in discussions with the personnel.

Mr. Manou Gagara, the Director of Care, provided an overview, noting that the hospital was officially established by decree N°2018-767/PRN/MSP on November 2, 2018, and commenced its operations in November 2019. Its core mandate is to deliver high-quality healthcare services to women and children, while also contributing to medical research, training initiatives, and overall health promotion. He highlighted the hospital’s impressive capabilities, which include 45 active beds, 10 fully functional incubators in the neonatology department, a range of cutting-edge equipment, a dedicated kangaroo care unit, and resources specifically tailored to meet the increasing demand for specialized medical attention.

Mr. Gagara further elaborated that essential medical devices and products have been procured and are slated for deployment to support the staff in their duties. The hospital’s workforce comprises 188 Nigerien professionals and 26 Turkish cooperants, collectively covering a wide spectrum of medical specialties and ensuring comprehensive consultations. He reported significant achievements, stating, “A total of 66,182 outpatient consultations were recorded with a 100% success rate from January 2025 to January 2026. For inpatient services, January 2026 saw 484 admissions, 212 deliveries including 147 caesarean sections, and 28 admissions to the neonatology unit.”

Following this detailed performance review, the Director of Care underscored several persistent challenges. These included, among others, a scarcity of essential documentation, the non-operational status of the mammography service due to the absence of X-ray analysis capabilities, and a shortage of specific laboratory reagents. Additionally, several specialists took the opportunity to directly convey their daily realities and operational obstacles to the Minister and his delegation.

Concluding his visit, Colonel-major Garba Hakimi expressed profound appreciation for the commitment demonstrated by the Turkish authorities in bolstering Niger’s health sector development. He also extended his congratulations to the hospital staff for their exceptional efforts, which have resulted in impressive health indicators. Addressing the identified difficulties, the Minister confirmed that thorough discussions had taken place, leading to the implementation of viable solutions. He conveyed his satisfaction with the observations made and the commendable results achieved by the hospital.

Furthermore, the Minister overseeing health affairs lauded the productive partnership between the two nations and urged the staff to maintain their dedicated momentum. He affirmed, “We have identified and resolved all the challenges brought to light. I call upon the entire administration to foster an environment of trust and collaboration between the Turkish and Nigerien personnel, ensuring a cooperative atmosphere that will yield even greater outcomes within this hospital.”