Minister’s visit highlights healthcare collaboration and challenges at Niger-Türkiye hospital

The Niger Minister of Public Health and Hygiene, Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, conducted an on-site assessment at the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital in Niamey to evaluate working conditions and address staff needs. The unannounced inspection aimed to review infrastructure, medical equipment, and operational challenges faced by healthcare professionals.

Comprehensive facility tour and staff engagement

During the visit, the minister toured critical departments including emergency services, mammography, operating theaters, neonatal intensive care, embryology laboratories, and gynecology-obstetrics. The delegation then reviewed the hospital’s operational status, achievements, and ongoing gaps before holding discussions with medical personnel.

The hospital’s director of care, Mr. Manou Gagara, shared key operational details: established by decree in November 2018 and operational since November 2019, the facility specializes in women’s and children’s health, research, training, and health promotion. With 45 operational beds, 10 neonatal incubators, state-of-the-art equipment, and a kangaroo mother care unit, the hospital serves a growing patient base.

Performance metrics and identified gaps

In 2025, the hospital recorded 66,182 outpatient consultations, 484 hospitalizations in January 2026 alone, 212 deliveries (including 147 C-sections), and 28 neonatal admissions. While celebrating these achievements, Mr. Gagara highlighted equipment shortages—particularly for mammography analysis, reagent deficiencies, and documentation challenges—as major operational hurdles.

Staff members also voiced concerns regarding resource constraints that impact service delivery. The minister acknowledged these issues and confirmed that immediate solutions were being implemented to resolve them.

Minister’s remarks and future outlook

Colonel-Major Hakimi commended the Turkish authorities for their support in strengthening Niger’s healthcare system and praised the hospital’s staff for their dedication. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between Nigerian and Turkish medical teams to sustain progress.

« We have identified and addressed all operational gaps. I urge the administration to foster a trusting environment between Turkish and Nigerian staff to enhance collaboration and achieve even greater results, » he stated. The minister also underscored the vital role of international partnerships in advancing healthcare delivery across the country.