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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many remote communities in Niger struggle with access to basic services such as water, electricity and hygiene supplies. Poverty, inadequate roads and adverse weather conditions keep many from adequate healthcare.听听

With support from the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa听鈥撎齮hrough听the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration听鈥撎齮he International Organization for Migration (IOM) is implementing several community stabilization activities in the region of Agadez, in northern Niger.听听听

Between February 2019 and June 2020, 122 community-based initiatives have been developed, including 42 infrastructure projects, in 11 out of the 15 communes in the region of Agadez.听听听

鈥淢any individuals in Niger still lack access to vaccination, medication and medical assistance,鈥� said Barbara听Rijks, IOM鈥檚 Chief of Mission in Niger. 鈥淓nsuring that remote, vulnerable and at-risk communities have access to quality healthcare is of paramount importance.鈥澨�听

IOM recently supported four health听centres听in the department of听Arlit, equipping them with latrines, solar panels, and solar-powered refrigerators which will enable medical staff to properly store vaccines.听听

The solar-powered batteries will help the health听centres听become self-sufficient as they will no longer need to rely on fuel or generators for their electricity supply. The new latrines will ensure proper hygiene standards while the outdoor lighting will increase visibility and enhance security at night.听听

鈥淧reviously, I had to bring the vaccines from the city because we didn鈥檛 have an adequate storage system,鈥� said Mariama, a nurse at one of the four health听centres听in a district called听Arlit. 鈥淚f I couldn鈥檛 go to the city, then we couldn鈥檛 vaccinate children as their mothers couldn鈥檛 afford the trip downtown. Now I have everything in place, so I won鈥檛 have to go back and forth anymore and families in the periphery will be able to easily access our services,鈥� she added.听听听

Lack of proper lighting was identified as one of the community鈥檚 priority needs last year during a meeting held by a committee in听Arlit. Four schools, three health听centres听and one maternity clinic located in remote locations outside听Arlit听were selected to receive new equipment.听听听

One-month-old听Amadou听was born at the newly equipped maternity听clinic听in the commune of听Akokan听in听Arlit, where deliveries in the past were often illuminated by flashlight.听听听

鈥淎fter four girls, he is the only boy,鈥� said his proud mother,听Ramatou. 鈥淲e often have power cuts in听Arlit, so we are very grateful to not have to worry anymore about giving birth at night.鈥澨�听

In close partnership with the Regional Directorate of Public Health (DRSP), IOM is planning to install similar equipment in the coming weeks at the health听centre听located in the remote village of听Aneye听in the commune of听Dirkou.听听

Additionally, a new health听centre听will be built for remote communities based in听Tchibarakaten, in the commune of听Iferouane.听听听

鈥淭hese initiatives always come from the community members themselves,鈥� said the mayor of听Arlit,听Abdourahmane听Dalahine. 鈥淭he need for well-equipped maternity clinics and health听centres听was raised by women associations. Whenever there is a necessity, we do our best to come through and solve it,鈥� he explained.听听

The activities funded by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and implemented in the framework of IOM鈥檚 community stabilization projects aim to support the government in improving access to basic needs and services, enhance local governance and social cohesion, and spur the economic recovery associated with the lack of economic opportunities in remote areas where听the听economy was once based on irregular migration.听