Niger
Niger's
large land mass (slightly less than twice the size of Texas) is mostly
desert; thus, its roughly 12 million people live primarily in the southwest
and in a narrow strip of savannah grassland along the border with Nigeria.
Independent from France since 1960, democracy has been rare, but the country
has mostly avoided the religious and ethnic strife that has plagued some
of its neighbors. About 97% of the population is Muslim; Christians constitute
less than one-half of one per cent. Still, there is religious freedom
and only in recent years has the pressure of fundamentalist Muslims been
a factor.
French is the official language, although Hausa is the common trading tongue. Only about one in six people can read and write. According to UN estimates, Niger is the second least-developed country in the world.
A missionary medical doctor from Germany has begun working at the hospital in Galmi, about 75 miles south of Tahoua along the Nigerian border. This missionary doctor has had several assignments in Africa, beginning with the first assignment in Liberia. (Liebenzell discontinued its ministry there in 1996 because of civil war violence.) The doctor is working in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology. In addition, they are involved in the professional development of Nigerian doctors in the area of general medicine.
Ministry Needs:
• Additional doctors and nurses for Galmi hospital
Prayer Requests:
• For opportunities to share the gospel with patients
at the Galmi hospital
• For famine relief and an end to the drought