On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Colonel-major Garba Hakimi, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, undertook an inspection tour of the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital. The primary objectives were to personally evaluate the facility’s infrastructure and equipment, understand the working conditions of its staff, and engage with them to identify challenges and devise appropriate solutions.
Upon his arrival, the Minister toured various departments within the hospital. These included the emergency room, mammography unit, operating theaters, the neonatal intensive care unit, embryology and oocyte retrieval laboratories, and the gynecology and obstetrics department. Following this comprehensive tour, the ministerial delegation received a presentation detailing the hospital’s history, achievements, current needs, and areas for improvement, after which the Minister held discussions with the staff.
Mr. Manou Gagara, the Director of Care, recounted that the hospital was established via decree N°2018-767/PRN/MSP on November 2, 2018, commencing operations in November 2019. Its core mission is to deliver high-quality care and services to women and children, while also contributing to health research, training, and promotion. He highlighted that the hospital is equipped with 45 operational beds, 10 functional incubators in the neonatology department, numerous state-of-the-art pieces of equipment, a kangaroo care unit, and resources tailored to meet the evolving demands for healthcare.
Mr. Gagara further noted that essential equipment and supplies have been ordered and will soon be available to staff, enabling them to fulfill their duties effectively. He detailed that the workforce comprises 188 Nigerien professionals and 26 Turkish cooperants, specialized across various fields to manage all consultations. He specified, “From January 2025 to January 2026, a total of 66,182 outpatient consultations were recorded, achieving a 100% rate. In January 2026 alone, there were 484 hospitalizations, 212 deliveries including 147 C-sections, and 28 admissions to the neonatology department.”
Following this comprehensive overview, the Director of Care emphasized various challenges, including insufficient documentation, the lack of X-ray equipment necessary for mammography analysis which renders that service non-operational, and shortages of specific reagents. Additionally, several specialists addressed the Minister and his delegation directly, sharing their daily experiences and the specific issues they encounter.
Concluding his visit, Colonel-major Garba Hakimi commended the Turkish authorities’ dedication to bolstering Niger’s health sector development. He also lauded the hospital staff for their exceptional efforts, noting the impressive performance indicators of the institution. Regarding the identified challenges, the Minister confirmed that extensive discussions had taken place, leading to the implementation of solutions. He expressed satisfaction with his observations and the hospital’s achievements.
Furthermore, the Health Minister acknowledged the productive partnership between the two nations, urging the staff to maintain their momentum. He affirmed, “We have identified solutions for all the difficulties brought to light. I encourage the entire administration to continue fostering a climate of trust and collaboration between the Turkish and Nigerien personnel to achieve even greater outcomes within this hospital.”
