Official handover of the medical equipment and supplies. Photo credit: Save the Children.

Save the Children’s USAID Kulawa project in Niger donates $326,956 in medical equipment and supplies to help ensure quality health services for women and children

(May 2023)-Save the Children in Niger, through its United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project USAID Kulawa, transferred a large procurement of medical equipment and supplies, with an estimated value of $326,956 (or 196,173,500 FCFA), to the Ministry of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs (MOPH/P/SA). This donation will support improved quality health services delivery for women, newborns, children, adolescents, and youth in health facilities located in the USAID Kulawa project intervention areas of Maradi, Zinder, and Tillabéri. 

The USAID Kulawa project held the official handover ceremony for this donation at a warehouse in the national capital city of Niamey, which was attended by health level health authorities and central public administration executives at the national level, including a principal Counselor to the Minister of Public Health, Central Directors of the MOPH/P/SA, the USAID/Niger Mission Director, and representatives from international partner organizations.

In line with the Nigerien government's health strategy, the USAID Kulawa project supports MOPH/P/SA efforts to significantly improve the quality of services delivered in health facilities.

In her remarks, Hassoumi Aissa Hama, representing the Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs, praised the efforts of USAID and Save the Children and their continued dedication to improving the health and well-being of the people in Niger, saying: "USAID's and Save the Children’s support in the fight against maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality are perfectly aligned with our national priorities and our roadmap to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals."

Representing the U.S. Embassy in Niger, Maria Barron, USAID Mission Director in Niger, welcomed the collaboration with the Government of Niger and the various actors implementing the USAID Kulawa project. She reiterated the continued support of the U.S. government and the American people in improving the quality of life of the Nigerien people and in particular, the health of women and children.

Ilaria Manunza, Country Director of Save the Children in Niger, expressed Save the Children's commitment to support Niger in strengthening its health system for the greatest benefit of communities already impacted by multiple social, security, and climate crises.

The five-year USAID Kulawa project (2020-2025) works in seventeen health districts supporting 276 integrated health centers, 580 health posts, and 3,300 villages. To date, USAID Kulawa has donated  $648,240 (410,855,088 FCFA) in medical equipment and supplies to health facilities, including this recent distribution that is in progress. Save the Children leads an NGO consortium to implement the USAID Kulawa project that includes Pathfinder International, PRONTO, and Viamo, and works in partnership with four national NGOs: ANBEF, ADD FASSALI, DIKO, and SongES.