CEO Urges Grassroots Support To Strengthen Nigeria’s Health System

The technical director and CEO of Datametrics Associates Limited, Dr Abiodun Feyikemi Ipadeola, has urged Nigerians to support public hospitals and uplift healthcare workers through simple gestures of appreciation and community service.

Ipadeola, who made the call on Monday in Abuja, in commemorations of the 2026 World Health Day, emphasised that midwives and nurses—who play crucial roles in ensuring safe deliveries and quality patient care—deserve greater public recognition and encouragement.

“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,” she said.

Ipadeola stressed that improving Nigeria’s healthcare system should not be left solely to the government. Citizens, she said, can contribute by meeting basic needs within hospitals and showing gratitude to health workers.

“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.

She noted that such gestures can boost morale among healthcare providers and enhance service delivery, especially in public facilities facing resource constraints.

Reflecting on her motivation, Ipadeola said her advocacy was inspired by personal experience. She recently marked her 40th birthday by returning to the government hospital where she was born, an act driven by gratitude to the midwives who ensured her safe delivery.

“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,” she said.

During the visit, she supported mothers who delivered at the hospital on her birthday with cash gifts, a gesture that brought relief to the families.

According to her, hospital staff confirmed that some parents were able to pay their delivery bills, with some moved to tears by the unexpected assistance.

“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 added.

While acknowledging that these acts cannot solve the systemic challenges facing the health sector, Ipadeola said they help ease patients’ financial burdens, uplift healthcare workers, and promote a culture of shared responsibility in strengthening public health facilities.

She described her initiative as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in improving the health system and putting smiles on the faces of new mothers.

“You can imagine going to the hospital to give birth and returning home not just with your baby, but with unexpected support,” she said.

Ipadeola called for sustained citizen engagement in the health sector, stressing that collective responsibility is key to improving infrastructure, boosting healthcare worker morale, and enhancing outcomes for mothers and children nationwide.