Leadership Transition at Djiri General Hospital in Brazzaville
An official handover ceremony was held on January 16 in Brazzaville at the Djiri General Hospital, presided over by the Minister of Health and Population. The event marked the transfer of duties from the outgoing Director General, Dr. Michel Valentin Gbala Sapoulou, to the new Director General, Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki.
Following the signing of the official minutes, Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki was installed in his new role. The proceedings followed the standard protocol for leadership transitions in public institutions, emphasizing continuity of service at the hospital.
For staff and patients, the ceremony carried a practical message: leadership may change, but the hospital’s daily mission remains. The Djiri General Hospital, inaugurated on December 15, 2021, has become one of the facilities intended to strengthen healthcare access in the northern part of Brazzaville.
Health Minister Ensures Continuity of Care
By presiding over the ceremony, the health minister highlighted the importance of stable governance in the public health system. The minister’s presence also framed the transition as part of ongoing efforts to keep hospitals organized, accountable, and patient-centered.
The minister’s role was not described as setting new policy at the event, but as guaranteeing a smooth transfer between two healthcare professionals entrusted with public responsibilities. In the background lies a simple expectation shared by many Congolese families: hospital care must be accessible, humane, and reliable.
The handover, organized within the hospital itself, also highlighted the weight of institutional leadership. For a general hospital, decisions concerning staff, services, equipment use, and patient pathways quickly translate into tangible results at the patient’s bedside.
New Director Outlines Djiri Hospital’s Public Service Mission
In his remarks, Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki emphasized the social role of a public hospital and the central contribution of its staff. He described the hospital as a place where an essential part of collective life plays out daily, beyond the purely technical dimension of treatment.
“A public hospital is a place where, every day, an essential part of collective life is at stake. People come for treatment, but also to be heard, reassured, and supported in often decisive moments,” stated Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki during the ceremony.
He added that the mission of Djiri General Hospital is to offer the population an accessible, humane, and dignified space for care, where medical expertise is exercised with respect for each person. In his formulation, this mission depends on the daily commitment of the men and women who embody the public health service.
The new director specifically mentioned doctors, caregivers, and administrative and technical staff, stressing that every role contributes to the institution’s smooth functioning. The message, delivered in formal yet inclusive language, positions the hospital team as the central driver of performance and quality.
Outgoing Director Presents Patient and Surgery Figures Since 2021
Dr. Michel Valentin Gbala Sapoulou, who led the hospital since 2021, used the ceremony to present a brief overview of activities conducted during his tenure. His statement blended pride in what had been accomplished with a frank acknowledgment that not everything had been completed.
“Certainly, not everything was perfect, but I leave behind a hospital with a solid and well-established reputation,” he said, before citing operational figures. According to Dr. Michel Valentin Gbala Sapoulou, the facility has received over 74,947 patients since 2021 and performed over 2,247 surgical operations.
The figures, presented as a snapshot of the hospital’s workload, reflect an institution that has been active since its inauguration. In a context where many households judge hospitals by their capacity to treat common illnesses as well as emergencies, such activity levels can influence public trust.
Dr. Michel Valentin Gbala Sapoulou also urged his successor to continue projects left unfinished at the end of his term. His tone suggested an orderly transition, with the new leadership expected to build upon existing foundations rather than start from scratch.
Unfinished Projects: University Partnership and Governance Meeting
Two outstanding objectives were explicitly highlighted by the outgoing director. The first was a partnership with Marien-Ngouabi University, which, he said, could help establish Djiri General Hospital as a university hospital center for Djiri. The second was holding the inaugural session of the hospital’s management committee.
Dr. Michel Valentin Gbala Sapoulou described these points as regrets linked to time constraints rather than a lack of intention. “If I may express a few regrets, I would say I essentially have two,” he said, naming the university partnership and the inaugural management committee session as his incomplete priorities.
He nevertheless expressed confidence that Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki, with the support of the hospital’s leadership, could achieve these objectives promptly and within the year. The mention of a management committee also underscores the internal coordination needs typical of growing public institutions.
Concretely, the proposed university link would involve training, mentorship, and potentially a stronger academic presence. The governance meeting would help formalize decision-making processes. Both objectives highlight a desire to consolidate the hospital institutionally, not just clinically.
Appointment by Decree Formalizes Leadership Change
The appointment of Professor Hugues Brieux Ekouélé Mbaki was made by Decree No. 2025-732 dated December 31, 2025, according to information shared during the ceremony. The formal decree provides the administrative basis for the new leadership and clarifies the chain of authority.
With the installation complete, attention now turns to how the new director will translate his stated priorities into daily management. Staff morale, patient flow, surgical capacity, and administrative coordination will likely remain immediate concerns for any director general of a highly active hospital.
For Djiri General Hospital, the handover represents a moment of continuity as well as renewed momentum. With its relatively recent inauguration in 2021, the institution is still in a phase where routines are being refined, partnerships explored, and governance structures strengthened to meet growing demand.