Abuja: The Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN) 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.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Prof. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, CEO of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Chair of the WIHCN Board of Trustees, emphasized this commitment during the network’s annual conference held in Abuja. The conference underscored WIHCN’s achievements in creating a supportive platform for women professionals through initiatives such as virtual learning sessions, mentorship programmes, and wellness campaigns aimed at empowering healthcare practitioners nationwide.
Elebute-Odunsi highlighted that the network was founded with a ‘simple but powerful vision’ to establish 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 quickly expanded to include more than 300 members across Nigeria and beyond, with active chapters in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom.
‘The Women in Healthcare Network exists to change this narrative, celebrate women’s impact, amplify their voices, and strengthen leadership across the health ecosystem,’ Elebute-Odunsi stated, addressing the often-overlooked contributions of women in healthcare.
At the event, Dr. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Health, representing the Vice President, commended Nigerian women in healthcare as the silent custodians of the nation’s survival. She praised their indispensable role in safeguarding the health and continuity of the country, often under challenging and dangerous conditions.
Rochas-Anwukah also paid tribute to women who have made historic contributions during 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.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, represented by his Special Adviser, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building an inclusive and accessible healthcare system. He praised women healthcare professionals for their transformative impact on Nigeria’s health system, describing them as ‘unwavering pillars of strength, innovation, and compassion.’
Additionally, Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, acknowledged the leadership of women in both the public and private sectors. He noted their remarkable impact as clinicians, innovators, policymakers, and administrators advancing healthcare delivery in Nigeria.