Restoring Hope in Tahoua: A Lifesaving Donation from World Vision Women

During each high malaria transmission season, between July and December, the pediatric department of the Regional Hospital Center of Tahoua in Niger faced a harsh reality: overcrowded beds, children hospitalized two or three to a single bed, caregivers packed into already saturated wards, and medical staff forced to work under extremely challenging conditions.

“We could not refuse to admit patients, even when there was no more space,” explains Dr. Sabo Sahabi, pediatrician and Director General of the Regional Hospital Center of Tahoua. 

Having worked at the hospital since 2009, he has witnessed the same difficulties recur year after year, despite efforts to improve the hospital’s reception capacity.

“In overcrowded wards, the atmosphere quickly became difficult to endure, especially during periods of intense heat. Providing care was complicated by the lack of space, staff movement became difficult, and hygiene conditions deteriorated. For families, it was sometimes hard to understand why health workers asked them to limit the number of caregivers in the wards.
When too many people are present in a hospitalization room, it directly affects the quality of care and even the oxygenation of patients,” Dr. Sahabi emphasizes.

It was in this context that the female staff of World Vision International Niger decided to take action. On the occasion of Niger’s National Women’s Day, celebrated on May 13 2024, a fully equipped hospitalization ward was donated to the Regional Hospital Center of Tahoua. The ward includes 12 beds, six fans, bedside tables, and a hospital table, with a total value of nearly 25,000 USD.

As a reminder, every year on May 13, Niger celebrates National Women’s Day in commemoration of the historic march of Nigerien women in 1991, who demanded greater female representation on the preparatory committee of the National Conference.

However, this story began well before the official handover of the donation.

In 2021, during a visit to the hospital at a time of high patient influx, the World Vision team witnessed firsthand the challenges facing the pediatric department. That day, Dr. Sahabi explained the situation to them: several children were sharing the same bed due to a lack of sufficient space.

“They asked us what they could do to help. We explained that we needed a new hospitalization ward,” he recalls.

Deeply moved by this reality, the female staff of World Vision decided to support the hospital through the construction of a new ward. Construction began shortly thereafter, was completed in 2023, and the facility was officially handed over in 2024.

Today, this ward represents a real relief for both medical staff and families. Equipped with beds, mattresses, bedside tables, a consultation table, and an air-conditioning system, it offers much more dignified and comfortable hospitalization conditions for sick children.

“It is an ideal ward for general hospitalization. It is even the only air-conditioned ward in the department,” testifies the Director General.

Primarily opened during peak malaria periods, the ward receives patients for about seven months each year and plays a crucial role in decongesting the pediatric department.

Thanks to this additional space, patients receive better care, caregivers benefit from improved reception conditions, and doctors are able to work in a calmer and more conducive environment.

“Many people have benefited from this ward, and they continue to benefit from it to this day,” Dr. Sahabi says with gratitude.

Through this initiative, the female staff of World Vision have not only contributed to improving healthcare conditions for children in Tahoua, but have also restored hope to medical staff who face the daily challenges of an overcrowded service.

“We deeply thank the women of World Vision for listening to us. The result is here: a large-capacity, well-equipped, and air-conditioned ward. May God bless them abundantly.”