Insights : Relieving Stress and Building Resilience for Public Health Professionals

Moderator:
Tijesu Ojumu – Communications Coordinator, eHealth Africa

Panelists:
Dr. Aminatu Kwaku-Chiroma – Public Health Consultant

Dr. Asma’ulHusna Abba Garko – Mental Health Awareness Educator

Dr. Ibrahim Aliyu Umar Gano – Director, Public Health and Disease Control, Kano State

Summary

The 38th edition of the Insights Webinar Series, hosted by eHealth Africa, focused on the theme “Relieving Stress and Building Resilience for Public Health Professionals.” The session explored the growing burden of stress and burnout within the public health workforce and highlighted practical, systemic, and individual strategies for strengthening resilience in resource-constrained settings.

The discussion opened with Dr. Aminatu Kwaku-Chiroma, who emphasized that stress among public health professionals has evolved from an individual challenge into a systemic crisis. She highlighted the impact of severe workforce shortages, high patient volumes, population growth, and migration of skilled professionals on health workers’ well-being. Drawing from Nigeria’s context, she noted that health worker-to-patient ratios far exceed World Health Organization recommendations, increasing burnout and compromising quality of care.

Building on this perspective, Dr. Asma’ulHusna Abba Garko provided insight into the often-unseen psychological toll faced by health professionals. She described how continuous exposure to trauma, preventable deaths, and limited resources contributes to emotional exhaustion, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. She stressed the importance of recognizing early warning signs, addressing stigma, and prioritizing mental health support within the workplace.

Dr. Ibrahim Aliyu Umar Gano highlighted the role of leadership, institutions, and policy in protecting the mental well-being of the health workforce. He underscored the need for adequate staffing, fair compensation, supportive work environments, and structured mental health policies. He also emphasized the importance of open leadership communication, peer support, and integrating mental health into health system governance rather than treating it as an individual responsibility.

Collectively, the panel reinforced that resilience cannot be built by individuals alone but must be supported by strong systems, intentional leadership, and enabling policies. The session concluded with a call for health institutions and policymakers to prioritize workforce well-being as a critical component of sustainable health systems and improved health outcomes.