Women are backbone of Nigeria’s healthcare system – Shettima 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised Nigerian women in healthcare as the silent custodians of the nation’s survival, describing them as “unseen, uncelebrated, but always indispensable” in safeguarding the health and continuity of the country. Speaking at the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN) second annual conference, themed “Rooted in Wellness, Rising with Purpose,” Shettima who […]

Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised Nigerian women in healthcare as the silent custodians of the nation’s survival, describing them as “unseen, uncelebrated, but always indispensable” in safeguarding the health and continuity of the country.

Speaking at the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN) second annual conference, themed “Rooted in Wellness, Rising with Purpose,” Shettima who was represented by the Senior Special Adviser to the president on Public Health, Dr. Uju Rochas-Anwukah lauded the sacrifices of female healthcare workers who have served the nation through decades of medical challenges often under difficult and dangerous conditions.

He said, “For those who heal are the custodians of a nation’s continuity. The story of our nation’s survival through the storms of diseases and despair is written in the quiet heroism of women who have chosen to serve even when the odds were cruel.”

The vice president paid tribute to women who have made historic contributions to national health emergencies, including the late Dr. Stella Adadevoh, who helped contain the Ebola outbreak in 2014, and Dr. Amarachukwu Allison, who detected Nigeria’s first COVID-19 case in 2020.

Meanwhile, the Women in Healthcare Network has reaffirmed its mission to connect, empower, and celebrate women across all sectors of the healthcare ecosystem, with a renewed focus on wellness, mentorship, and leadership development.

Speaking at the event, Professor Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, CEO of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Chair of the WIHCN Board of Trustees, said the group was founded with a “simple but powerful vision” to create a community where women in healthcare can connect, learn, unlearn, and be empowered to lead.

Founded just two years ago by 15 women, the Network has rapidly grown into a dynamic movement of over 300 members across Nigeria and beyond, with active chapters in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom.

The Network has also partnered with national initiatives such as the Renew Her Program spearheaded by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinacker which aims to improve the lives and well-being of women across Nigeria.

Also speaking, Dr. Steinacker “As healthcare professionals, we often pour into others, our patients, our communities, our families, sometimes forgetting that true leadership begins with our own wellness.

“To be rooted in wellness is to recognise that we cannot pour from an empty cup, that rest, reflection and self-care, are not luxurious, but foundations of purpose. When we rise with purpose, grounded in wellness, we are unstoppable. We become innovators, advocates and changemakers who can transform not only our professions, but the systems that shape health for millions of women and families across Nigeria and beyond.

“In my role as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, I am deeply committed to building a Nigeria where every woman, from the student in training to the doctor leading a hospital, has the opportunity, the health and the support to thrive.

“Through the and the partnership with the Women in Healthcare Network, we are working to ensure that your voices, your expertise and your leadership are at the heart of this transformation. To every young woman in this room, your dreams are valid, your brilliance is needed and your purpose is bigger than you can imagine. Stay rooted in your wellness, rise with intention and never forget you are the future of healthcare in Nigeria.”