Niger, located in West Africa, is one of the world’s most impoverished countries and is classified by the World Bank as a low-income country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Niger has a young population, with 24.8% of the Nigerien population aged between 0 and 14 years. Additionally, the neonatal mortality rate in Niger is 34.15 per 1,000 live births.

Similarly, the mortality rate of children under 5 years old is 117.07 per 1,000 live births, as indicated by WHO data. Therefore, pediatric and neonatal medical aid is crucial to the national public health of Niger. Improving public health is an important aspect of reducing extreme poverty in Niger. Charitable projects that provide pediatric and neonatal medical aid to Niger include those launched by Galmi Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse, CURE International, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the African Neonatal Association.

The aid supplied by these charitable organizations encompasses governmental vaccination partnerships and outpatient nutritional rehabilitation services. It also includes surgery for congenital disabilities and untreated trauma, the facilitation of global neonatal research in Africa, as well as the operation of neonatal and pediatric wards.

Pediatric and Neonatal Public Health Programs in Niger

Galmi Hospital is a nonprofit organization hospital in Niger operated by Serving in Mission International. Galmi is located 470 km east of the Nigerien capital city, Niamey. The hospital believes that children are precious to the heart of God. The under-5 clinic at Galmi Hospital provides medical care to approximately 100 infants daily.

Galmi Hospital has a partnership with the Nigerien government to supply vaccinations to children within the regional area of Galmi and its surrounding communities. In addition to this, the outpatient nutritional rehabilitation center of Galmi Hospital cares for infants below the age of 5 who are underweight, stunted or wasted. Malaria, dehydration due to diarrhoea, pneumonia, sickle cell disease, meningitis and malnutrition occur frequently among pediatric in-patients at Galmi Hospital.

Many of these diseases are easily preventable through vaccines against measles and pertussis; however, tragically, due to widespread poverty, medical resources are limited. Galmi Hospital proposes the construction of a specialist pediatric ward to effectively cater to children with illnesses.

The Samaritan’s Purse charity launched a new medical health care center in the Reguou village of Niger in 2021, which has had very high malnutrition rates for many years. The center has a specialist focus on aiding pregnant mothers and malnourished children. A significant decrease in malnutrition rates, an increase in children being vaccinated and improved public health are the successes of the new health care center.

Samaritan’s Purse had been active in Niger before the new launch through the provision of medical treatment for cholera, the opening of nutritional projects and mobile medical clinics. Local medical professionals and the director of Samaritan’s Purse for Niger celebrated the launch of the new health care center.

Neonatal Medical Aid to Niger

The African Neonatal Association is a group of African neonatologists and pediatricians specializing in neonatal care across the continent. Advocacy, education and research by the association help to improve the medical aid available to neonates in Africa. The study conducted by the African Neonatal Association increases opportunities for global neonatal research in Africa and promotes synergy among researchers working with neonates in Africa. It also supplies validated research to support the provision of the best possible neonatal care.

Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy or birth asphyxia, sepsis and prematurity are the most common causes of mortality among newborns in Africa. The pharmaceutical medicinal products and medical equipment needed to provide medical aid to newborns in Africa are relatively inexpensive; however, sound logistics are crucial for effectively administering neonatal medical assistance to the African continent, including Niger. According to the African Neonatal Association, the number of neonatologists is limited and neonatal nursing is not yet recognized as a specialty, highlighting the significant need for neonatal medical care in Niger.

Pediatric and Neonatal Surgical Missions to Niger

CURE International is a nonprofit charity founded by an orthopedic surgeon and his spouse to provide high-quality surgical treatment to children in need across developing countries in Africa and beyond. Bowed legs, clubfoot, burn contractures, cleft lip and cleft palate, genu valgum, osteogenesis imperfecta, windswept legs and untreated trauma encompass a range of malformations. CURE International operates pediatric hospitals to provide surgical care for these conditions.

Three sisters who received surgical treatment from CURE Niger for the genetic congenital disability osteogenesis imperfecta suffered from fragile bones that broke frequently, resulting in mobility difficulties and an inability to walk. More than 12 surgical operations and months of recovery were required before the sisters were able to walk following treatment. CURE Niger is the only hospital in Niger that offers specialized surgical medical care for children with treatable physical disabilities.

Obstetric Medical Aid for Neonates and Infants

MSF provides obstetric medical aid through a maternity ward in an MSF-operated hospital in the Madaoua district of Niger to decrease the mortality rate of newborns. The MSF hospital in Madaoua also operates an inpatient therapeutic feeding center, in addition to neonatal and pediatric wards. In the Dungass district of Niger, MSF launched a 200-bed pediatric unit and supported the coordination of other pediatric units nationwide.

Final Remarks

The provision of pediatric and neonatal medical aid is a vitally important part of reducing extreme poverty in Niger. Improvements in overall national public health boost the country’s economic development. Many international aid projects by charities and other organizations have helped facilitate pediatric and neonatal medical aid in Niger.

– Deborah Asante

Deborah is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr