The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, has described the Women who spend long days and nights in hospital wards caring for sick relatives as unsung heroes whose sacrifices often go unnoticed.
Dr Adedolapo Fasawe made the remark during a visit to patients at Kuje General Hospital to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day.
Fasawe commended mothers who remain by the bedsides of loved ones receiving treatment, noting that their dedication provides comfort and hope that medicine alone cannot offer.
Read Also:IWD: Women Are Great Team Players- Kwara Governor
Addressing patients and caregivers, she explained that the visit was aimed at recognising the courage, resilience and selflessness of women who leave the comfort of their homes to care for relatives in hospital wards.
“I am delighted to be at Kuje General Hospital today to visit women who are either receiving treatment or caring for sick loved ones. As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, we reflect on the theme ‘Give to Gain,’ which highlights the value of sacrifice, compassion and service to others,” she said.
Fasawe noted that mothers who remain in hospitals to care for their loved ones often sacrifice their comfort and daily routines, exchanging their beds for plastic chairs and spending long hours in hospital corridors.
“These women are the quiet pillars of strength in our hospitals. They give up the comfort of their homes and routines simply to be present for someone they love. Their devotion is a powerful reminder of the strength and compassion that define motherhood,” she said.
She further observed that mothers often take on multiple roles in hospital wards, acting as caregivers and emotional support systems despite not being medical professionals.
“They may not be on the hospital payroll, yet they work tirelessly. They may not be trained nurses, yet they watch over their loved ones with remarkable care. And though they are not doctors, their presence often becomes the medicine that brings hope and strength,” she added.
According to Fasawe, mothers caring for patients frequently provide support that goes beyond medical treatment, offering emotional reassurance during moments of vulnerability.
“In times of illness and uncertainty, a mother’s presence provides something medicine alone cannot give — love, comfort and hope,” she said.
“To every mother who has slept on a hospital bench, skipped meals to remain by a bedside and carried hope when others felt weary — you are heroes. Not celebrated heroes, but the kind whose love heals in ways science cannot measure,” she added.
International Women’s Day is observed annually on 8 March to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women while advocating for gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide.