Dr. Hajara’s story: pioneering patient-centred care

Dr. Hajara is providing quality healthcare and inspiring young girls in the process.

Date

2021

Location

Gilkey, Abuja, Nigeria

Patient-centred care is vital to support not only people’s health but their wider wellbeing and rights. Dr. Hajara Yusuf is pioneering patient-centred care in Nigeria with her HYBA Hospital. Here, she shares how Road to Growth supported her entrepreneurial journey. 

My name is Dr. Hajara Yusuf. I am a medical doctor by profession, and work as the Medical Director of HYBA Hospital, a patient-centred hospital in Gilkey, Abuja, Nigeria. Patient-centred care considers a patient’s values and background when prescribing treatment.   

I came across the Cherie Blair Foundation’s Road to Growth programme through a friend. I had been using the HerVenture app to help me set up my own private practice when I applied and was selected to take part in the programme. I have since gained a lot of confidence, knowledge and skills around how to effectively run a private clinic and the management skills required.  

Dr. Hajara Yusuf poses in front of a patient bed at her hospital

Having practiced as a doctor in the public sector for over 20 years, I needed the confidence to leave the hospital and my comfort zone. The Road to Growth programme taught me how to set a vision, mission and goals for my business, different ways to access financing, how to manage finances and how to set a healthy work-life balance as a mother of five children. The programme is thus a complete package that supports female entrepreneurs to run a successful business. I find the ongoing, post-programme mentorship and support very helpful too. 

Thanks to the programme, my network has increased tremendously, to include members of the mentoring group that has been set-up. This has given me the opportunity to connect with other specialists in the medical field that have businesses and opened doors to future potential collaboration.  

Thanks to the programme, my network has increased tremendously, to include members of the mentoring group that has been set-up.

Dr. Hajara Yusuf speaks to staff at her hospital

Through my work, I contribute to the goal of universal health coverage, and contribute to my community by helping to provide access to efficient patient-centred care. I also contribute to the lives of staff that work with me and to the next generation by being a role model to girls and children everywhere who can see that yes, this is possible. A female doctor can indeed establish a clinic of her own. There is an adage that says, “when you train a girl, you have trained a whole nation”, because this knowledge actually trickles down. The fact that I can own a hospital, as a woman, is very inspiring to me and I hope my success story will also be inspiration to other young girls. 

The Road to Growth programme gave me a platform to do this and has given me a real advantage over other business owners. I feel that the programme has helped me to contribute to my community, to the global economy and also the global health challenge that we face. 

I feel that the programme has helped me to contribute to my community, to the global economy and also the global health challenge that we face. 

Dr. Hajara Yusuf at her desk

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