Grassroots support key to strengthening Nigeria’s health system, says public health expert
Nigerians have been urged to support public hospitals and encourage healthcare workers through simple acts of appreciation and community service to strengthen the country’s health system. Dr. Abiodun Feyikemi Ipadeola,
- By Dele Anofi, Abuja
Nigerians have been urged to support public hospitals and encourage healthcare workers through simple acts of appreciation and community service to strengthen the country’s health system.
Dr. Abiodun Feyikemi Ipadeola, Technical Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Datametrics Associates Limited, said such efforts are necessary to motivate midwives and nurses who play critical roles in ensuring safe deliveries and quality patient care.
Ipadeola spoke in Abuja on Monday ahead of the 2026 World Health Day, themed 'Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,' where she said, “Midwives should be encouraged to ensure safe delivery of children, and nurses should be supported to take proper care of patients. We can all be impactful in our own little ways."
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She said improving Nigeria’s healthcare system should not be left solely to the government, noting that citizens can contribute by meeting basic needs in hospitals and showing appreciation to health workers.
“We can only help each other to ensure that our infrastructure is doing well.
“Sometimes, it is as simple as saying ‘thank you’ to a health worker, appreciating them for attending to you, offering them water, or ensuring that your birth hospital does not lack water once in a while,” she added.
According to her, such gestures can boost the morale of healthcare providers and improve service delivery, particularly in public facilities facing resource constraints.
Ipadeola said her advocacy was inspired by personal reflection, noting that she recently marked her 40th birthday by visiting the government hospital where she was born.
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“I am who I am today because a midwife took care of my mother and ensured that my birth was stress-free. That made me realise the need to give back.
During my visit, I supported mothers who delivered at the hospital on my birthday with a cash gift, a gesture that brought relief to all the families that benefited from the donation,” she said.
She added that hospital staff confirmed that some families were able to settle their delivery bills, while others were moved to tears by the unexpected support.
“I didn’t know such support could go a long way until we saw their reactions. It showed that even small efforts can make a big difference,” she said.
Ipadeola noted that while such interventions may not resolve systemic challenges in the health sector, they help ease financial burdens on patients, boost staff morale, and promote shared responsibility in strengthening public health facilities.
“You can imagine going to the hospital to give birth and returning home not just with your baby, but also with unexpected support.
“The whole world is a mission field, and everyone can make an impact, no matter how small. If we all do our part, we can ensure that other unborn children benefit from better care,” she said.
She called for sustained citizen participation in the health sector, stressing that collective responsibility would help improve infrastructure, motivate healthcare workers, and enhance outcomes for mothers and children across the country.
