Niger's Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Colonel-major Garba Hakimi, conducted a working visit to the Maradi region from November 5 to 8, 2026. He was accompanied by the Secretary General of the Maradi Governorship, Abdoulkarim Mahamadou, and the WHO representative in Niger, Pr Jean Baptiste Mikéna. The mission aimed to evaluate the quality of healthcare services provided to the population and identify challenges. The minister visited several health facilities in the departments of Guidan Roumdji, Aguié, and the city of Maradi.
In Guidan Roumdji, the minister visited the Karambi Saboua Integrated Health Center (CSI), created in 2003 and transformed into a type 2 CSI in 2025. The center serves a population of 30,619 inhabitants from 20 villages and hamlets. The minister inspected various services, including maternity and care rooms, and verified the availability of drinking water. He was briefed on the center's attendance, services provided, and product availability. The main issue raised was the lack of personnel, but the minister observed the quality of care and staff availability.
The minister also visited the Guidan Roumdji District Hospital, where he inspected the operating block, cold chain, pharmacy, emergency services, and maternity ward. The district medical officer, Dr Aouadé Hassane Oumarou, presented the hospital's operations, challenges, and successes. The exchanges allowed the minister and his delegation to assess the indicators presented. The visit highlighted the importance of evaluating healthcare services to address challenges and improve quality.
In the Aguié department, the minister met a community relay in the village of Guidan Roro, who impressed the delegation with his mastery of his role in promoting health. The relay had received successive training, which he had well assimilated. The minister then visited the Malam Bakabé type 2 integrated health center, created in 2023, which serves an estimated population of 15,217 inhabitants in 2026. He verified the existence of all care services, a functional COGES, an autonomous water point, an energy source, and a burner.
The minister's visit continued with a stop at the Aguié District Hospital, followed by a presentation of the center. On the third day, he visited the Maradi Mother and Child Health Center, the Regional Hospital, the Reference Hospital, the garage, and the cold chain of the Maradi Regional Health and Public Hygiene Directorate. Everywhere he went, the minister inspected and verified services to ensure their proper functioning.
A meeting between the minister and the heads of health structures concluded the working visit. The mission allowed the minister to assess the quality of healthcare services, identify challenges, and consider solutions. The visit also aimed to evaluate the implementation of the 2022-2026 Health and Social Development Plan. The minister's evaluation mission is part of efforts to improve healthcare services in Niger.
The evaluation mission also included the handover of three ambulances, a tricycle, and a batch of medicines donated by the WHO to the Maradi region. This donation aims to strengthen the region's health infrastructure and improve healthcare services. The minister's visit and the WHO donation demonstrate the commitment of the Nigerien government and international partners to improving healthcare in the country.
Key points
- The Nigerien Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Garba Hakimi, conducted an evaluation mission in the Maradi region to assess healthcare quality and challenges.
- The mission included visits to several health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and community relays.
- The visit aimed to evaluate the implementation of the 2022-2026 Health and Social Development Plan and identify solutions to healthcare challenges.
