Wittenborg Graduate Analyses Challenges and Solutions for Nigerian Healthcare Sector

Patience Orukpe’s Thesis Focuses on Barriers Faced by Orthopaedic Disability Patients in Nigeria  

For her master’s thesis, Wittenborg graduate Patience Orukpe focused on solutions for the Nigerian healthcare system. Patience, who completed an MBA with a specialisation in Health and Social Care, examined the administrative barriers that restrict access to social support for orthopaedic disability patients in Nigeria.  

“I chose this topic because it helps enhance the quality of life for individuals living with orthopaedic disabilities and improves the overall healthcare system in Nigeria. The relevance of this research goes beyond academia; it has implications for the design of healthcare policies, social welfare schemes and the quality of life for Nigerian orthopaedic patients,” she says.  

The graduate highlights that her research topic has not been studied before, because other studies about the Nigerian healthcare system did not focus on orthopaedic patients. To explore it, she opted for a qualitative approach and conducted interviews with patients’ families, carers, healthcare professionals and organisational representatives. In total, 62 subjects were interviewed, selected through convenience sampling. 

“This way, I had the opportunity to engage with participants who were present at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, ensuring timely and efficient data collection,” Patience underlines.  

Among other topics, the open-ended, semi-structured questionnaire used to collect data addressed key administrative challenges and solutions related to providing social support schemes for orthopaedic patients in Nigeria. Other questions focused on the primary administrative hurdles faced by government and social organisations in implementing these schemes, as well as administrative reforms that could improve their efficiency and accessibility. 

The study identified five key administrative challenges impacting the hospital: staff shortages, inadequate supervision, supply shortages, bureaucratic inefficiencies and negative staff attitudes. Patience points out that while respondents suggested potential solutions, it is crucial to recognise that many of these challenges go beyond the hospital’s capacity to resolve independently. Therefore, addressing these issues requires significant financial and material resources, ultimately needing intervention from federal and state governments. 

According to the graduate, her findings corroborate existing research highlighting systemic weaknesses within the Nigerian public health system. “Previous studies have consistently documented staff shortages, inadequate supervision, insufficient supplies and administrative obstacles hindering patient care, particularly in navigating the system. The convergence of these findings with prior research strongly suggests that the administrative challenges encountered at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi reflect broader systemic issues affecting orthopaedic disability patients across Nigerian public health facilities. This widespread nature significantly enhances the generalisability of the study’s observations to similar healthcare settings nationwide.” 

Patience describes the experience of writing her thesis as “exceptionally valuable, interesting and enjoyable”. In her view, a strong, collaborative relationship with the thesis supervisor is crucial to the student’s success. 

“My supervisor, Professor Cha-Hsuan Liu, did a great job guiding me, and I am grateful for her efforts. If you are working on your thesis, maintaining detailed records of all feedback received and diligently addressing each point will significantly contribute to the quality of your work and overall academic progress. This approach demonstrates commitment and lays a solid foundation for a positive and productive working relationship.” 

In the future, Patience plans to establish a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Nigeria dedicated to providing comprehensive social support services for individuals with orthopaedic disabilities. “My long-term goal is to create a sustainable organisation that effectively addresses the unique challenges faced by this population, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities that enhance their quality of life. This initiative will focus on developing and implementing programmes designed to improve access to healthcare, education, employment and social integration,” she emphasises.

WUP 15/04/2025 
by Ulisses Sawczuk 
©WUAS Press