Tunde Adegbola

Nigerian physician who pioneered maternal health initiatives in post-colonial Africa

Dr. Tunde Adegbola (1920-1998) was a visionary Nigerian physician and administrator who revolutionized healthcare in West Africa. Trained in London, he returned to Nigeria in 1950 to address the country's severe maternal mortality crisis. He established the first modern maternity hospital in Lagos and pioneered community-based healthcare programs that reduced infant mortality by over 40% between 1955-1970. His 1963 book Maternal Health in Tropical Environments became a seminal text in global public health.

Adegbola's innovative approach integrated traditional midwifery practices with modern medicine through his Community Health Worker model. He also co-founded the African Medical Research Foundation, which trained over 1,200 healthcare workers across 15 countries. His legacy lives on through the Tunde Adegbola Maternal Health Awards and the WHO's 2020 maternal health guidelines still referencing his work.