By John Paul
Public health is a broad topic that envelopes a wide range of topics, including epidemiology, environmental health, occupational health and safety, community health, behavioral and mental health, infectious disease, and more. With the aim of promoting and protecting health, public health professionals many times are working behind the scenes involved in work such as leading organizations, inventing innovative products, and advocating for public health policy changes. Many of these influential individuals receive little or no recognition for their important endeavors, leading the charge in preserving human health.
In this write-up i will discuss about Blossom Maduafokwa, one of Nigeria fitness physician that is notable for playing a role to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria and also her inspirations journey of life.
Dr. Blossom Maduafokwa is an experienced management consultant and public health professional, with a background in healthcare and management consulting. Her most recent position was as a senior Register at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. She oversees the development and management of the hospital diverse portfolio of projects and partnerships.
Blossom was Born September 26th 1970 into the family of Royal Highness Igwe Dr. Walter Chukwunwe Eze and Her Royal Highness Mrs. Justina Nebechiaya Eze. She is an eight-time full marathon finisher, a licensed Zumba instructor, and a group fitness instructor with an Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) certification. She is the creative director of Blossom’s Fitness Hub, a fitness and wellness platform.
*Academic background*
Dr. Blossom Maduafokwa has a medical degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She furthered her education by earning Masters in Healthcare Management Boston, Massachusetts at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
She also holds a Masters in Business Administration at Pan African University
*National/ Community Impacts:*
Blossom played a pivotal role in spearheading a transformative initiative that has left a lasting impact in the lives of young people by improving public health service in Nigeria through her initiative to reduce Breast Cancer and also she contributed to its prevention and early detection. And through her leadership position she also played an important role while risking her life to reduce the spread of COVID-19 which actually received recommendations from Nigeria government lead by President Muhammadu Buhari
Blossom Maduafokwa is considered one of greatest trainers of all time and she is a respected trainer who specialises in the science of bodybuilding and nutritionso. She has spent over 15 years researching in the area of human performance, exercise physiology and muscle hypertrophy, and her work has been featured in major publications such as Yessiey magazine. Blossom legacy lives on with her ongoing commitment to helping people achieve their fitness goals through her knowledge and experience from training thousands of athletes around the world.
In her capacity as the Creative Director of Blossom’s Fitness Hub since May 2018, She empowered and shape the vision, strategy, and overall impact of Blossom’s Fitness Hub, reflecting her unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, holistic well-being, and community development.
One significant avenue through which she realized her impact is by fostering Youth Empowerment through Fitness. She has not only provided funding but has also facilitated comprehensive training for young individuals, empowering them with the skills and certifications needed to pursue careers as fitness instructors. This initiative directly contributes to their personal growth and economic independence.
*Awards and accolades:*
Blossom was awarded by Nigeria Books of Record because of her positive role she played in Nigeria health sector and majorly for her role during the COVID-19 Spike.
She was also honored with the Dr M.P. Otolorin prize for the best candidate in the Part 1 FMCPH examination in both Epidemiology and Public Health at the Faculty of Public Health and Community Medicine (FMPCH), National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and Dr. M. Y. I. Salami prize for the best candidate in Environmental Health during the Part 1 FMCPH examination at the same esteemed institution. This recognition underscores her commitment to academic excellence and proficiency in essential areas of public health.
She also has been honored by the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria for outstanding representation on TV, radio, and social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. This recognition highlights her commitment to effectively communicating public health information, especially during critical times, and underscores the importance of accurate and impactful health messaging.