Women who spend long hours in hospital wards caring for sick relatives have been described as unsung heroes whose sacrifices often go unnoticed.
The Mandate Secretary for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, made the remark during a visit to patients at Kuje General Hospital in Abuja as part of activities marking International Women’s Day 2026.
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.
Addressing patients and caregivers during the visit, she said the outreach was aimed at recognising the courage and resilience of women who leave the comfort of their homes to care for relatives admitted in hospitals.
“I am delighted to be at Kuje General Hospital today to visit women who are either sick or caring for sick loved ones. On this day, International Women’s Day 2026, we celebrate the theme ‘Giving to Gain,’” she said.
Fasawe noted that mothers who stay in hospitals to care for their loved ones often sacrifice their personal comfort and routines, trading their beds for plastic chairs and spending long hours in hospital corridors.
“These women are the quiet pillars of strength in our hospitals. They trade their warm beds for plastic chairs. They exchange the comfort of their kitchens for hospital corridors. They set aside their routines, their work, and often their own health simply to be present for someone they love,” she said.
She further highlighted how mothers play multiple roles within hospital wards, acting as caregivers and emotional support systems despite not being medical professionals.
“They may not be on the hospital payroll, but they work tirelessly. They may not be trained nurses, but they carefully watch over their loved ones. And though they are not doctors, their presence often becomes the medicine that brings hope and strength,” Fasawe added.
According to her, mothers caring for patients frequently provide support that goes beyond medical treatment by offering emotional comfort in moments of vulnerability.
“In moments of illness and vulnerability, a mother’s presence provides something medicine alone cannot give — love, comfort, and hope,” she said.
She paid tribute to mothers who make personal sacrifices while supporting their sick relatives in hospitals.
“To every mother who has slept on a hospital bench, skipped meals to stay by a bedside, and carried hope when others felt weary you are heroes. Not famous heroes, but the kind whose love heals in ways science cannot measure,” she added.
International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8 to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women globally while advocating gender equality and women’s empowerment.
