First department of Child neuropsychiatry in Niger was inaugurated in National Hospital of Niamey

On October 2, the first Child Neuropsychiatry department in Niger was officially opened in Niamey at the National Hospital of the capital city. This is a very significant event, not only because it marks the birth of a department entirely dedicated to the mental health of children and teenagers, but also because it represents an innovative approach to mental health focusing on the needs of young people and of their families. Niger has indeed the highest fertility rate in the world, about one half of the population is 15 years old or less. Until now, there were no services of child neuropsychiatry, although the high presence of neuropsychiatric diseases, like cerebral palsy and epilepsy, which often take to death or disability.

The new department is part of the development of “National program of mental health in Niger” project, made by MEDU – Medici per I Diritti Umani (physicians for the human rights), in partnership with National Program of mental health (PNSM) of the Public health minister of Niger and Nigerian association Alternative Espaces Citoyens (AEC), thanks to the funding of the Italian Agency for developing Cooperation.

Within the department have been created appropriate spaces and there have been trained some healthcare professionals who are able to treat not only mental health diseases in the strict sense but also all the neuropsychiatric conditions of childhood that can take to disabilities.

This integral version of health led Medici per I Diritti Umani (Physicians for the human rights) through all the phases of the project. Specifically, the rehabilitation room represents the most real example of this approach: children and teenagers with disabilities will receive care through modern equipment and qualified nigerian staff with italian specialists from MEDU.

According to the speech of the General Coordinator of MEDU Alberto Barbieri: “This important inauguration doesn’t represent the end of the project, but it is a starting point that opens up new challenges. In fact, in the coming years, it will be crucial to build a territorial network that covers the entire Niamey area, that will be able to identify the needs and neuropsychiatric conditions of children and adolescents, especially those who are most disadvantaged, and ensuring their access to this reference center. At that point the project will have fully achieved its goals, in a perspective of sustainability and full access to the right to health.”

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Health, Colonel Major Garba Hakimi, the Head of Mission of the Italian Embassy in Niamey, Roberto Orlando, the Head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Niamey, Fabio Minniti, and other important representatives of institutions and partners.