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Emergency Trust Fund for Africa
News article7 March 2021

Assistance and protection of the most vulnerable migrants in West Africa: Red Cross health care provision for vulnerable people in Niger

Red Cross health care provision for vulnerable people in Niger
Red Cross

"Awareness-raising is an essential part of making progress in the field of human rights"

(Mr Assoumana Hadia)

The Red Cross interviewed Mr Assoumana Hadia, Director of the Regional Hospital of Tahoua, who told them what this intervention means for the region of Tahoua in Niger in the field of health:

What is your impression of the Red Cross project?

The project responds to the needs and priorities of the health system and its most direct beneficiaries (migrants and patients in the hospital). It is also in line with the Nigerien legislative framework, the priorities and the strategic framework of the Ministry of Public Health.

The Red Cross is a key institution for the development and protection of people in difficulty, particularly migrants. Its success is directly linked to the progressive acquisition of a solid independent status and the strengthening of its credibility through its daily work in direct contact with the population while consolidating its operationality and its capacity for integration.

What has this project brought in terms of health assistance?

The project is, in its execution, the "engine" of an important part of the activities of the Regional Hospital of Tahoua with the support of its medical staff. It contributes to considerably increasing the visibility of the Red Cross and the Ministry of Public Health as human rights institutions and to broaden the scope of discussion and debate on fundamental issues that are directly related to development, social progress, social justice and stability.

The Red Cross has also made great efforts to organise awareness-raising activities (both at the level of health structures and in communities and strategic points in the different towns), patient care and training of agents dynamically at the level of hospitals in the three departments, with offices that are perfectly integrated into the medical service of these hospitals.

To date, more than 2,700 people have been made aware of the rights of human beings and more specifically those of migrants. The number of direct and indirect beneficiaries of the project has been very significant so far. In mid-November, 12 migrants were treated at the Regional Hospital of Tahoua, 6 at the HD of Tchintabaraden and 2 at the CSI of Tahoua, and more than 632 patients from the host community consulted the project's medical teams integrated within the health structures of the 3 departments.

The management of all migrant cases as well as the integrated care of patients (host community) by the project's medical teams was exemplary. The efficiency of the project was high in relation to all the activities mentioned.

The organisation of work within the medical teams and the maximisation of its human resources had a significant impact and was seen as a great improvement. The same applies to the capitalisation of the work of the project team and its experience in the field of patient care in general. The project's medical teams provide full consultations, follow-up of hospitalized patients and weekly guard and assistance services.

Details

Publication date
7 March 2021
Region and Country
GuinéeCôte d'IvoireSenegalThe GambiaMaliBurkina FasoNiger
Thematic
Improved migration management
Partner
Save the ChildrenRED CROSS SPAINCaritas Switzerland

Programmes in the region