Colonel-major Garba Hakimi, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, undertook a crucial visit to the Hôpital de l’Amitié Niger-Türkiye on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The objective was to personally evaluate the facility’s infrastructure and equipment, understand the working conditions of its staff, and engage in discussions to identify their challenges and formulate appropriate solutions.
Upon his arrival, the Minister toured various departments within the hospital. This extensive tour included the emergency services, mammography unit, operating theaters, the neonatal intensive care unit, embryology and oocyte retrieval laboratories, and the gynecology and obstetrics department. Following this comprehensive guided inspection, the ministerial delegation received a detailed presentation outlining the hospital’s history, achievements, operational needs, and existing shortcomings, before the Minister engaged in a direct dialogue with the healthcare professionals.
Mr. Manou Gagara, the Director of Care, recounted the hospital’s inception, noting its establishment by Decree N°2018-767/PRN/MSP on November 2, 2018, and its commencement of operations in November 2019. Its core mission is to deliver high-quality care and services to women and children, while also contributing to medical research, training, and public health promotion. He highlighted the hospital’s resources, which include 45 active beds, 10 fully functional incubators in the neonatology department, state-of-the-art equipment, a dedicated kangaroo care unit, and specialized materials designed to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services.
Mr. Gagara further communicated that essential medical devices and supplies have been procured and will soon be available to staff, enhancing their capacity to fulfill their duties effectively. He detailed that the workforce comprises 188 Nigerien professionals and 26 Turkish collaborators, distributed across various specialties to ensure comprehensive consultation services. “From January 2025 to January 2026, a total of 66,182 outpatient consultations were recorded, achieving a 100% rate. For January 2026 alone, 484 hospitalizations were registered, alongside 212 deliveries, including 147 caesarean sections, and 28 admissions to the neonatology unit,” he elaborated.
Following this comprehensive overview, the Director of Care underscored several challenges, such as a scarcity of documentation, the non-operational status of the mammography service due to the absence of X-ray analysis equipment, and a shortage of certain diagnostic reagents. Additionally, several specialists addressed the Minister and his delegation, sharing their daily realities and specific operational hurdles.
At the conclusion of his visit, Colonel-major Garba Hakimi expressed his appreciation for the commitment of the Turkish authorities in supporting the advancement of Niger’s health sector. He also commended the hospital staff for their exceptional work, noting the impressive performance of the hospital’s health indicators. Regarding the identified challenges, the Minister confirmed that in-depth discussions had taken place and effective solutions were being implemented. He conveyed his satisfaction with the observations made and the positive outcomes achieved by the institution.
Furthermore, the Minister of Health lauded the successful partnership between the two nations, urging the staff to maintain their dedication. “We have identified solutions for all the difficulties brought to light. I encourage the entire administration to foster a continued atmosphere of trust and collaboration between the Turkish and Nigerien personnel, aiming for even greater achievements within this hospital,” he affirmed.