Minister inspects Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital to evaluate healthcare staff challenges

The Minister of Public Health and Hygiene, Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, conducted an on-site inspection of the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital, focusing on working conditions, infrastructure quality, and staff needs. The visit, held on February 25, 2026, allowed the minister to personally assess operational challenges and engage directly with healthcare professionals to identify practical solutions.

Comprehensive tour of critical healthcare services

Upon arrival, the minister toured key departments, including:

• Emergency services – Evaluating response capacity and resource availability
• Mammography unit – Reviewing diagnostic equipment functionality
• Operating theaters – Assessing surgical infrastructure and staff readiness
• Neonatal intensive care – Inspecting incubators and specialized care units
• Embryology and oocyte collection labs – Observing advanced reproductive health services
• Gynecology and obstetrics – Analyzing maternal and child health operations

The delegation then received a detailed briefing on the hospital’s history, achievements, and ongoing needs, followed by an interactive session with medical staff.

Hospital performance and staffing highlights

Mr. Manou Gagara, Director of Care, outlined the hospital’s mission and operational achievements:

• Inaugurated via Decree N°2018-767/PRN/MSP (November 2, 2018)
• Specializes in women’s and children’s healthcare, research, training, and health promotion
• Features 45 operational beds, 10 functional incubators, and a kangaroo care unit
• Employs 188 Nigerien staff and 26 Turkish cooperants across multiple specialties
• Recorded 66,182 outpatient consultations (100% coverage from January 2025 to January 2026)
• Conducted 484 hospitalizations in January 2026, including 212 deliveries (147 C-sections) and 28 neonatal ICU admissions

While praising the hospital’s strong performance metrics, Gagara acknowledged critical gaps, including:

• Absence of radiology services for mammography results interpretation
• Shortages in essential reagents and documentation materials
• Limited access to advanced diagnostic tools

Specialists also shared firsthand accounts of their operational constraints.

Minister’s response and strategic commitments

Following the inspection, Colonel-Major Hakimi commended the strong Turkish-Nigerien partnership in healthcare development and praised staff for their exceptional dedication. He confirmed that immediate solutions had been identified for reported challenges and emphasized:

« We have addressed all identified difficulties. I urge the administration to foster a trusting and collaborative environment between Turkish and Nigerien professionals to enhance hospital performance and achieve even greater results. »

The minister also highlighted the importance of sustained cooperation to maintain the hospital’s high service standards and improve health outcomes for patients.