New Paediatric Ward Improves Healthcare for Children in Tahoua, Niger

Every year, during the peak malaria transmission season from July to December, the pediatric ward of the Tahoua Regional Hospital faced an overwhelming reality: overcrowded beds, two or even three children sharing the same bed, caregivers packed into already congested rooms, and medical staff struggling to provide care under extremely difficult conditions.

"We could not turn patients away, even when there was no space left," explains Dr. Sabo Sahabi, pediatrician and Director General of the Tahoua Regional Hospital. Having served at the hospital since 2009, he has witnessed the same challenges return year after year despite ongoing efforts to expand the hospital's capacity.

"In the overcrowded wards, the atmosphere quickly became unbearable, especially during the hottest months. Limited space made patient care more difficult, staff movement was restricted, and hygiene conditions deteriorated. Many families did not understand why health workers asked them to limit the number of caregivers staying in the wards. When too many people occupy a hospital room, it directly affects the quality of care and even the patients' oxygen supply," Dr. Sahabi explains.

It was in this context that the women staff of World Vision International Niger decided to take action. During Nigerien National Women's Day, celebrated on May 13, they donated a fully equipped pediatric ward to the Tahoua Regional Hospital, complete with 12 hospital beds, six fans, a bedside table, and an examination table.

However, this story began long before the official handover ceremony.

In 2021, during a visit to the hospital at the height of the malaria season, the World Vision team witnessed firsthand the difficult conditions in the pediatric department. That day, Dr. Sahabi explained that several children were forced to share the same bed because there simply was not enough space.

"They asked us what they could do to help. We told them that what we truly needed was a new hospitalization ward," he recalls.

Deeply moved by what they had seen, the World Vision staff decided to support the hospital by funding the construction of a new ward. Construction began shortly afterward, was completed in 2023, and the facility was officially handed over in 2024.

Today, the new ward has become a source of relief for both medical staff and families. Equipped with hospital beds, mattresses, bedside tables, an examination table, and an air-conditioning system, it provides children with a much safer, more comfortable, and dignified environment for treatment.

"It is an ideal ward for general hospitalization. In fact, it is the only air-conditioned ward in the pediatric department," says the Director General.

The ward is primarily used during the annual malaria peak season, serving patients for approximately seven months each year. It plays a vital role in reducing overcrowding in the pediatric department.

With this additional space, patients receive better quality care, caregivers benefit from improved conditions, and health workers are able to work in a calmer and more efficient environment.

"Many people have benefited from this ward, and they continue to do so today," Dr. Sahabi says gratefully.

Through this initiative, the women staff of World Vision not only improved the quality of pediatric healthcare in Tahoua but also restored hope to medical professionals who face the daily challenges of an overstretched health system.

"We are deeply grateful to World Vision for listening to us. The result speaks for itself—a spacious, fully equipped, and air-conditioned ward. May God bless them abundantly."