Colonel Major Garba Hakimi, Niger’s Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, recently affirmed the nation’s resolute commitment to achieving health sovereignty. His remarks came on Saturday, November 29, in Dakhla, Morocco, following his participation in the inaugural African Summit on Health Systems and Health Sovereignty, a two-day event held in the Moroccan province.

The pursuit of robust health autonomy aligns with the overarching vision of Niger’s highest authorities, including General Abdourahmane Tiani, President of the Republic and Head of State, and the Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance. These leaders are spearheading substantial investments and initiatives within the healthcare sector.

Significant milestones have already been reached in this endeavor, marked by the recent construction of essential health infrastructure across the country. This includes new hospitals and integrated health centers strategically located nationwide. Minister Hakimi emphasized that these facilities are crucial for bolstering primary healthcare services at the community level, asserting that a resilient healthcare system cannot exist without foundational infrastructure capable of delivering primary care.

Further demonstrating this proactive approach, Minister Hakimi highlighted the acquisition of cutting-edge medical equipment. Substantial investments are being made throughout Niger to equip healthcare professionals with the tools necessary for precise diagnostics and effective curative care. Beyond equipment, a strong emphasis is placed on human capital development. The minister noted that the mere presence of advanced technology is insufficient without skilled personnel, which is why numerous agents are undergoing specialized training and continuous professional development programs.

As part of the Nigerien authorities’ comprehensive strategy, the health sector benefits from substantial budgetary allocations. These are complemented by measures providing free medical care for specific vulnerable populations and a 50% reduction in treatment costs at public health facilities, as detailed by the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene.

He underscored that initiatives such as free childbirth services, care for children under five, and the expansion of infrastructure at all levels are crucial for ensuring equitable access to care for everyone. “This new momentum is guiding us towards the universal health coverage championed by various authorities. I believe Niger is fully engaged in this trajectory, and God willing, we will achieve it,” he stated optimistically.

Reflecting on the outcomes of the Dakhla summit, Minister Hakimi observed that over 48 hours, African experts meticulously reviewed the continent’s health systems. While progress was acknowledged, numerous challenges were also identified, notably the inherent fragility of African health systems, alongside issues of governance and financing.

For the Nigerien official, merely identifying challenges is not enough; the critical task is to devise effective strategies to forge a more robust, resilient, and ultimately higher-performing healthcare system capable of realizing the goal of health sovereignty. “These are the essential conditions for truly advancing towards this health independence,” he stressed.

The minister continued, “This summit was an outstanding success, allowing us to recognize and embrace the vision of His Majesty the King of Morocco for a health-sovereign Africa. Within the framework of this vision, we participated this morning (Saturday, November 29) in the inauguration of the headquarters of the African Academy of Health Sciences.”

He further elaborated on Morocco’s commitment to this ambitious undertaking, which includes “the construction of university hospitals concurrently with universities and other health training facilities, including a comprehensive complex in Dakhla that we visited.” Colonel Major Garba Hakimi, a medical professional, emphasized, “Human resources are paramount for health sovereignty; a solid, robust, and high-performing health system is unattainable without quality human capital. I believe this vision of His Majesty the King should be shared by other heads of state to truly enable Africa’s progress.”

In this context, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene recalled past initiatives by heads of state recommending the allocation of 15% of national budgets to the health sector. This funding is vital for acquiring necessary equipment, developing sufficient human resources, and building a strong healthcare system that can evolve towards the desired health sovereignty. “We should not await assistance from others, whether from the West or partners, to achieve sovereignty. It is achievable; we simply need to exert effort,” asserted Colonel Major Garba Hakimi.

He also noted that beyond direct budgetary allocations, an increasing number of countries are recognizing the necessity of exploring innovative financing mechanisms. This combination of funding approaches is expected to cultivate a more stable and effective health system.

The minister expressed optimism regarding the Dakhla Declaration’s roadmap, which is structured around five key pillars: Epidemiology; Human Capital/Training; Research and Innovation; Financing/Governance; and Infrastructure and Equitable Access. “I believe that by focusing our efforts on these five axes, we can indeed achieve the much-sought-after health sovereignty. It is absolutely feasible. The main thing is to get to work,” he concluded.

The first African Summit on Health Systems and Health Sovereignty, held from November 28 to 29, brought together approximately 200 African experts in Dakhla to deliberate on the critical concept of health sovereignty, a project strongly advocated by the King of Morocco.