By Reducing Maternal, Infant Mortality We’re Expanding Access to Quality Care Across Nigeria – MD Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals 

Iwosan Lagoon Hospital, one of the largest private tertiary healthcare providers in West Africa, has been at the forefront of delivering high-quality medical care and innovative treatments. Over the years, the hospital has built a strong reputation for providing high-quality, patient-centred healthcare, with a special focus on improving maternal and child health. In an interview, the Managing Director of Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals Ikeja, Dr Oluyemisi Odubayo, highlights the hospital’s recent achievement of the JCI Gold Seal of Approval for the fifth time, underscoring its dedication to meeting global healthcare standards.  He also talks about the journey from 1986 to becoming one of Nigeria’s leading healthcare providers and its commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility, and the continuous focus on maternal and child health in Nigeria and West Africa. Rebecca Ejifoma brings excerpts 

Can you share a bit about the journey of Iwosan Lagoon Hospital and its commitment to delivering top-tier healthcare in Nigeria?

Iwosan Lagoon Hospital’s journey began in 1986, with a clear commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare to Nigerians. Over the years, we have built a reputation as one of the country’s leading healthcare providers, consistently focusing on patient-centred care and pioneering specialized healthcare services in Nigeria. What started as a single hospital in 1986 has since expanded into a network of healthcare facilities across Lagos State, incorporating advanced medical technologies and a team of highly trained professionals. Today, Iwosan Lagoon Hospital Ikeja stands as a centre of excellence in maternal and child healthcare. Our dedication to excellence, ethical practices, and particularly our work in maternal and child health, has earned us the trust of both local and international patients.

Achieving the JCI Gold Seal of Approval for the fifth time is a significant milestone. What does this mean for the hospital, especially in delivering exceptional maternal and paediatric care to your patients?

Achieving the JCI Gold Seal of Approval for the fifth time is a significant reflection of our ongoing commitment to global healthcare standards. This prestigious recognition validates our continuous efforts to provide the highest quality care, particularly in maternal and paediatric services. It ensures that our hospital adheres to the most stringent guidelines for patient safety, quality of care, and clinical best practices. For us, this milestone goes beyond accreditation—it underscores our dedication to ensuring that mothers and children receive the safest and most effective care throughout their treatment journey. Moreover, this achievement directly contributes to our efforts in reducing maternal and infant mortality, further aligning with the global goal of improving health outcomes as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. It’s not just about maintaining standards; it’s about continually improving, so we can offer our patients the very best in care.

The rigorous JCI accreditation process ensures safety, quality, and patient-centred care. How has this process shaped your hospital’s daily operations, particularly in terms of safety, patient care, and quality?

This rigorous process also encourages staff at all levels to be proactive in identifying and addressing potential safety risks. It has led to systematic improvements in our internal protocols, such as more effective hand hygiene practices, enhanced patient education, and better care coordination between departments. Ultimately, this commitment to constant improvement helps ensure that we provide not only safe and efficient care but also compassionate and patient-centred experiences for everyone who comes through our doors.

What are the strategic priorities for Iwosan Lagoon Hospital as it continues to expand access to world-class healthcare in Nigeria and West Africa, especially in the area of Mother and Child health?

Our strategic priorities include expanding access to high-quality healthcare for underserved communities, particularly in maternal and child health. We are also focusing on integrating cutting-edge technologies and improving the patient experience. Additionally, we aim to enhance our outreach programs and partnerships to increase awareness and education on maternal health, ensuring that more women and children benefit from our services across Nigeria and West Africa.

As healthcare evolves globally, what new technologies or innovative care models do you see shaping the future of maternal and child healthcare at Iwosan Lagoon Hospital?

As healthcare evolves, we are seeing a shift towards more personalised, data-driven care. In maternal and child healthcare, telemedicine, remote monitoring, and mobile health applications are transforming how we provide care, especially in metropolitan cities like Lagos, where patients often struggle to find time for hospital visits. In the near future, we will integrate AI-driven diagnostic tools and advanced imaging technologies to improve the early detection of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. These innovations will allow us to deliver more precise, timely, and effective care to mothers and children.

With Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals now under Iwosan Investments Limited, how has this partnership influenced the hospital’s approach to infrastructure and healthcare innovation?

The partnership with Iwosan Investments Limited has strengthened our infrastructure development and healthcare innovation. It has allowed us to expand our facilities, incorporate state-of-the-art equipment, and enhance our overall patient experience. This collaboration supports our mission to provide world-class healthcare services and enables us to focus on long-term sustainability and continuous improvement, ensuring that we stay ahead of healthcare trends and provide the best care possible. This, again, is a testament to our JCI reaccreditation.

Can you highlight any recent initiatives or projects, underpinned by this partnership, that have directly enhanced patient care for mothers and children?

One of the key initiatives supported by our partnership with Iwosan Investments Limited is the expansion of our maternal and child healthcare services. We have upgraded our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and maternal wards with the latest technology and equipment. Additionally, we have launched an outreach program to provide free maternal health education and subsidized screenings, ensuring that more women and children can benefit from early interventions and preventive care.

Given the rising demand for quality maternal and paediatric healthcare, how is the hospital addressing accessibility and high standards of care for mothers and children in underserved regions across Nigeria?

We are actively expanding our outreach programs to provide essential maternal and paediatric healthcare services in underserved regions. Through partnerships with local hospitals in our Lagoon Hospital referral network, community organizations, and telemedicine platforms, we are bringing quality healthcare to areas that may not have easy access to it. Additionally, we are working to improve affordability by offering subsidized services and collaborating with insurance providers to ensure that more mothers and children can benefit from our high standards of care.