Brazzaville health leadership transition at Djiri
Brazzaville’s Djiri General Hospital has entered a new chapter after an official handover ceremony held on January 16 at the facility. The event was chaired by the Minister of Health and Population, Professor Jean Rosaire Ibara, according to the account of the ceremony.
The handover marked the transition between the outgoing director general, Dr. Michel Valentin Gbala Sapoulou, and the incoming director general, Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki. The ceremony took place on the hospital’s premises, in the Djiri area of the capital.
Official handover and confirmation by the Health Minister
After the handover documents were signed, including the official minutes of transfer, Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki was formally installed in his new role by Professor Jean Rosaire Ibara. The sequence underscored the government’s emphasis on continuity in public health management.
The event also provided a public setting for both leaders to address staff and partners. The transition was presented as a structured administrative process, with the outgoing team handing over responsibilities and the incoming director setting out the spirit in which he intends to lead.
Ekouélé Mbaki sets tone on public hospital mission
In his remarks, Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki stressed the importance of a public hospital as more than a place for medical treatment. He described it as a daily point of contact where patients come not only to be treated, but also to be listened to and supported.
He said Djiri General Hospital’s mission is to provide communities with care that is accessible, humane and delivered with dignity, with medical expertise exercised in respect of each person. He also highlighted the central role of staff in making that mission real.
Staff highlighted as engine of service delivery
The new director general pointed to the collective commitment required for a public health institution to function effectively. He credited doctors, care teams, administrative staff and technical personnel as essential contributors, each playing a specific role in ensuring the public service of health is delivered daily.
His message was framed as a call for cohesion and professionalism inside the hospital. By focusing on the value of every category of worker, he positioned the hospital’s performance as a shared responsibility rather than the achievement of a single office.
Outgoing director reviews results since 2021
Dr. Michel Valentin Gbala Sapoulou, who led the hospital since 2021, presented a brief review of activities conducted during his tenure. While acknowledging that not everything could be perfect, he said he was handing over an institution with an established reputation.
He reported that since 2021 the hospital has received more than 74,947 patients and carried out more than 2,247 surgical procedures. Those figures were cited as markers of the hospital’s growing role in Brazzaville’s health care landscape.
Projects flagged for the next phase at Djiri Hospital
Alongside the activity figures, the outgoing director identified unfinished priorities he hopes the new leadership will deliver. He said two items remained particularly important to him: developing a partnership with Marien-Ngouabi University and organizing the inaugural session of the hospital’s management committee.
According to Dr. Gbala Sapoulou, the university partnership would help position the facility as a university hospital center for Djiri. He also expressed confidence that Professor Ekouélé Mbaki, supported by the hospital’s leadership team, can advance these goals within the year.
Appointment decree and hospital timeline
Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki was appointed director general by Decree No. 2025-732 dated December 31, 2025, according to the information provided. Djiri General Hospital was inaugurated on December 15, 2021.
The timeline situates the leadership change within the hospital’s relatively recent development. For many residents in northern Brazzaville, the facility has become a reference point for consultations and surgery, and the new appointment signals a continued focus on strengthening operations.