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.
Prof. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, CEO of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Chair of the WIHCN Board of Trustees, made the remarks on Friday in Abuja during the Network’s annual conference.
The conference highlighted WIHCN’s efforts in building a supportive platform for women professionals through initiatives such as virtual learning sessions, mentorship programs, and wellness campaigns aimed at empowering healthcare practitioners nationwide.
Elebute-Odunsi said the network 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 grown into a dynamic movement of more than 300 members across Nigeria and internationally, with active chapters in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom.
“Our contributions as women in healthcare often go unrecognized,” she said. “The Women in Healthcare Network exists to change this narrative, celebrate women’s impact, amplify their voices, and strengthen leadership across the health ecosystem.”
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Health, Dr. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, who represented the Vice President, praised Nigerian women in healthcare as the silent custodians of the nation’s survival.
She described them as “unseen, uncelebrated, but always indispensable” in safeguarding the health and continuity of the country. Rochas-Anwukah lauded female healthcare workers for their sacrifices and resilience while serving through decades of medical challenges.
She also paid tribute to women who 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.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building an inclusive, accessible healthcare system driven by wellness, empathy, and innovation. He described women healthcare professionals as “unwavering pillars of strength, innovation, and compassion whose work continues to inspire hope and progress.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, acknowledged the leadership of women in both the public and private sectors, noting their remarkable contributions as clinicians, innovators, policymakers, and administrators advancing healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
