Dr Abiodun Feyikemi Ipadeola, the Technical Director/CEO of Datametrics Associates Limited, has called on Nigerians to support public hospitals and encourage healthcare workers and families through simple acts of appreciation and community service.
Ipadeola is a public health researcher and data/impact evaluation expert.
She made the call while speaking to newsmen on Monday in Abuja ahead of the commemoration of the 2026 World Health Day, with the theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”
She commended midwives and nurses who provide vital care in ensuring safe deliveries and quality patient care.
According to her, they can be motivated through public recognition of their efforts and support to patients receiving care from them.
“Midwives should be encouraged to ensure safe delivery, and nurses should be supported to take proper care of patients. We can all be impactful in our own little ways,” she said.
She said that 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 gratitude 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 once in a while,” she said.
According to her, such small gestures can boost morale among healthcare providers and improve service delivery, especially in public health facilities facing resource constraints.
Ipadeola said that her advocacy was inspired by personal reflection.
She said that she recently marked her 40th birthday by returning to the government hospital where she was born.
“The visit was driven by a deep sense of gratitude to the healthcare workers who ensured my safe birth.
“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 said that hospital staff confirmed that some parents were able to settle their delivery bills, with a few moved to tears by the unexpected support.
“I did not know such support could go a long way until we saw their reactions. It showed that even small efforts can make a big difference.”
Ipadeola said that such interventions may not address systemic challenges in the health sector.
She, however, said that they played a critical role in easing patients’ financial burden, boosting morale among healthcare workers, and promoting a culture of shared responsibility in strengthening public health facilities.
She described the initiative as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in strengthening the health system and putting smiles on the faces of mothers in unexpected ways.
The technical director urged Nigerians to adopt a culture of giving back.
“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 engagement in the health sector, stressing that collective responsibility would help improve infrastructure, boost healthcare worker morale, and enhance outcomes for mothers and children nationwide.
