In recent days, the Italian soldiers of the Bilateral Support Mission in Niger (MISIN) and the Italian Embassy in Niamey have provided for the delivery of a second batch of drugs and medical devices in favor of the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Defense Nigeriens. The first batch was delivered last April.
This second donation of the Italian Cooperation of sanitary materials and essential drugs, is part of a series of cooperation initiatives between Italy and Niger already launched by 24 last April, which includes a multi-dimensional support to particular local criticalities .
The staff of the Bilateral Support Mission in Niger (MISIN) has identified in the health field the priority of intervention in consideration of the particular situation of both the civil and military health of the country.
Medicines and health facilities deemed essential were delivered, agreed with the health of the World Health Organization's Epidemiological Observatory, present in the Nigerian capital.
The list of needs led to the supply of a second batch of additional health devices and medicines, of about 12 tons, which is part of a series of donations - including a first load in April of over 15 tons and others planned - which will allow the local Authorities to be able to treat the diseases widespread in the region, and to support surgical interventions for hundreds of people in need, as well as to provide for the delivery of emergency kits for medical treatment and emergency surgery.
The recovery of medical equipment has developed thanks to the continuous and fruitful contacts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the International Cooperation, with the involvement of the United Nations which made available the Humanitarian Emergency Response Base (UNHRD) in Brindisi and with the Defense staff which supplied the C130J air carrier of the Pisa aircraft brigade, necessary for the transport and delivery to the Nigerian authorities of medical equipment of approximately 12 tons.
The delivery took place at the Niamey military airport, in the presence of representatives of the Ministries of Public Health and Defense of Niger. Then a donation ceremony will be held at the Italian Embassy in Niamey, to which local authorities and Italian civil and military authorities will take part.
The initiative is a sign of the willingness to actively support the Nigerian authorities to face an emergency situation and, at the same time, is a clear demonstration of how missions carried out by the Armed Forces abroad are increasingly marked as inter-ministerial and inter-agency , as well as an expression of the concrete commitment of the entire Country System.
