At the request of the President of the Republic of Niger, H.E. Mohamed BAZOUM and the Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Illiassou Idi Maïnassara, the Embassy of the Order of Malta to Niger is advancing on a project of great magnitude in Niamey with the aim of working for the fight against Drepanocytosis.

1st genetic disease in the world and impacting nearly 20% of Nigeriens (out of 23 million), DREPANOCYTOSIS (sickle cell disease) affects many children aged 0 to 5 years, and their maximum life expectancy is limited to only 20 years, compared to 45 years in Europe. Painful crises are the most frequent symptom.

The Order of Malta’s project is therefore to rebuild the existing National Reference Centre for Sickle Cell Disease in Niamey, a unique centre for the whole country, which is currently unhealthy and dilapidated.

With only 27 beds today, divided into three hospitalization rooms of nine beds each, children are 3 per bed and adults 2 per bed. Without air conditioning, the temperature can go from 10° to 45° during the year. The new center would allow the sickle cell children to be distributed over 60 beds initially (up to 200 eventually), in order to better respond to the needs of the population.

Faced with this situation, Ambassador de Preville is currently looking for potential partners to provide financial support for the construction of the center and its operation.

The Pierre Fabre Foundation has already agreed to sign a partnership agreement, in addition to a cooperation agreement with the State, which is fully in line with the National Strategic Plan for the fight against this disease, published by the Ministry of Health.