Groups hold health screening for victims of terrorism and natural disasters in Niger
Healthcare assessment for internal migrants who are casualties of terrorism and natural calamities was offered in partnership with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TKA) and the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital.
TKA persistently addresses the needs of internally displaced Nigerien individuals affected by terrorism and natural calamities.
Over 2,000 individuals were assessed during the healthcare evaluation on the periphery of Niamey, and nearly 6,000 medications were distributed. With support from the Turkish Maarif Foundation, more than 100 of the assessed individuals were referred to the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital for further treatment and intervention. Ultimately, 50 individuals underwent surgical procedures.
The two-day initiative saw participation from Turkish missions in Niger, global organizations, and national media representatives. Mahir Saruhan, Charge d’Affaires at the Turkish Embassy in Niamey, visited the event and expressed that the Turkish Embassy recognizes the shared fate of both nations and will maintain its commitment to promoting bilateral cooperation between Niger and Turkey in all sectors.
Mor Djaw from the World Health Organization, along with Natsuko Sawaya and Charlotte van Heesevijk from the International Organization for Migration, also visited and extended their support and commendations.
The patients expressed gratitude to the Turkish populace and Türkiye for supplying them with complimentary assessments, medications, treatments, and surgical options as they could not afford the steep costs of healthcare services.
TKA is continually earning the admiration of the Nigerien populace through its humanitarian and social assistance initiatives aimed at supporting marginalized communities. TKA plays a crucial role in the infrastructural development efforts in Niger across various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, livestock, and media.
TİKA continues to bolster health infrastructure in Niger
According to United Nations data, nearly half of Niger’s population exists below the poverty threshold, with recent terrorism and natural disasters prompting internal population displacements.
Countless victims of terror and calamities are grappling with diseases, starvation, and poverty exacerbated by the absence of a reliable source of income while residing in dire conditions within registered camps set up by the Niger government, as well as in makeshift settlements created from straw and tents.
Deaths related to malnutrition, cholera, typhoid, and malaria are prevalent, particularly among children and the elderly.
In a country lacking sufficient social welfare initiatives and mandated health insurance systems, a significant portion of the population is unable to access healthcare services and is challenged to obtain medications.
Nonetheless, the Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital, established by TKA in 2019 in partnership with the health ministries of Turkey and Niger, is the preeminent mother-child hospital in the nation. By not refusing underprivileged Nigerien individuals with limited financial means, the hospital engages in social support initiatives while offering high-quality assessments, treatments, and surgical options.
