Turkey-Niger friendship hospital to go operational soon

A hospital built by Turkey in Nijer will start to operate in October, Turkey's health minister said on Thursday.

The Nijer-Turkey Friendship Hospital was constructed by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) -- a government-run aid agency which is responsible for implementing the country's developmental cooperation policies overseas -- upon the instruction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

"Niger-Turkish Friendship Hospital, whose construction was carried out under a protocol inked between the Turkish and Niger governments, will start to accept patients in October," Fahrettin Koca said in a written statement.

He said Turkey dispatched 30 tones of medical equipment, including medicine, sterilization products and serums to Niamey, the capital of Niger, early in the week.

Turkish and Nigerien health personnel will serve for the patients in the hospital, Koca also said.

The 44-bed hospital was built on 5,840 square-meters (6,300 square-feet) area in Niamey.

The management of the hospital will be transferred to Niger after the two health ministries jointly operate the hospital for three years.