Health minister visits Niger-Turkey friendship hospital in Niamey
Boosting healthcare excellence: minister evaluates staff needs at Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital
The Minister of Public Health and Hygiene in Niger, Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, conducted an official inspection at the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital to assess infrastructure, equipment, and working conditions. This unannounced visit on February 25, 2026, aimed to engage directly with medical staff, identify operational challenges, and reinforce the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery nationwide.
Comprehensive hospital tour highlights critical care services
The minister’s itinerary included key departments such as:
- Emergency care – evaluating response times and resource availability
- Mammography unit – assessing diagnostic capabilities and equipment functionality
- Operating theaters – reviewing surgical infrastructure and staff readiness
- Neonatal intensive care – monitoring infant survival technologies and neonatal support systems
- Embryology and oocyte retrieval labs – examining advanced reproductive health facilities
- Maternity and obstetrics – analyzing maternal health outcomes and delivery protocols
Following the walkthrough, the delegation attended a detailed briefing where hospital leadership presented performance metrics, operational constraints, and strategic priorities. The director of nursing, Mr. Manou Gagara, outlined the hospital’s founding mission under Decree N°2018-767/PRN/MSP (November 2, 2018), emphasizing its dedication to high-quality maternal and pediatric care, research, and health promotion.
Strong operational capacity with room for improvement
The facility’s current capacity includes:
- 45 operational beds
- 10 functional incubators in the neonatology unit
- State-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
- Kangaroo mother care unit for pre-term infants
- Specialized medical supplies tailored to rising demand
Mr. Gagara revealed that essential machinery and reagents have been procured and will be deployed to enhance clinical efficacy. The workforce comprises 188 Nigerian professionals and 26 Turkish cooperants across various specialties. In the past year, the hospital recorded:
- 66,182 outpatient consultations (100% coverage from January 2025 to January 2026)
- 484 hospitalizations in January 2026 alone
- 283 deliveries, including 147 C-sections
- 28 admissions to the neonatology department
However, the director highlighted critical shortfalls such as inadequate documentation systems, missing mammography interpretation tools, and insufficient reagent stock. Several specialists later shared firsthand accounts of these hurdles during the minister’s open forum.
Minister praises progress and pledges continued support
After reviewing challenges and progress, Colonel-Major Hakimi commended the partnership between Niger and Türkiye for strengthening the country’s health sector. He lauded staff performance, citing strong clinical outcomes despite resource limitations. The minister confirmed that immediate solutions were identified for all reported issues and expressed satisfaction with the hospital’s achievements.
In closing, he urged sustained teamwork between Nigerian and Turkish colleagues to maintain momentum. “We’ve resolved every challenge raised today. I call on all staff to foster mutual trust and collaboration to ensure this hospital continues delivering outstanding results,” he stated.
