Mrs. Juliana Bodunde Aluko is a distinguished professional who has served her country diligently in the area of healthcare delivery. She is a specialist in prosthetics and orthotics, an area which is very important to orthopaedic medicine. She has the record of being the first woman to be made Assistant Director, Prosthetics & Orthotics by the Federal Ministry of Health. Since the year 2010, she has worked as Head, Department of Prosthetics & Orthotics, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.
Mrs. Juliana Bodunde Aluko was born on December 31, 1958 at Iju in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State to the family of Pa Gabriel and Madam Felicia Oligiobi Ogunbuyide.
She attended Saint Stephen’s Primary School, Iju-Akure from 1963 to 1968 and got her First School Leaving Certificate.
In 1971, she gained admission into Anglican Grammar School, Iju–Itaogbolu, Ondo State. She went on transfer to Fiwasaiye Girls Grammar School, Akure in 1972, where she obtained her West African School Certificate in 1976.
Mrs. Aluko taught for a while at Omolere Nursery and Primary School, Akure before she was nominated by Ondo State Ministry of Education to go on Federal Government scholarship to study Prosthetics and Orthotics at Lycee Technique D’ Alembert, Paris, France in 1977. She obtained her Higher National Diploma (HND), Prosthetics and Orthotics in June 1982.
She came back to Nigeria in August, 1982 and did her National Youth Service (N.Y.S.C.) at Military Hospital, Odogbo, Ibadan from September 1982 to August, 1983.
She was employed by the Federal Ministry of Health to work at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos under The Orthopaedic Health Management Board, Yaba, Lagos as a Higher Prosthetist and Orthotist on 1st November, 1983. She rose to the rank of Chief Prosthetist and Orthotist before she became the Head of Prosthetics and Orthotics Department in 2010. She was promoted to the post of Assistant Director, Prosthetist and Orthotist in 2012.
Her work involves attending to patients at the Prosthetics/Orthotics Department by providing prostheses/orthoses for them. This enhances their quality of life, corrects deformities and supports existing ones that are not correctable.
She also lectures students of Federal College of Orthopaedic Technology (FECOT). She handles students of the School of Orthopaedic Cast Technology and the School of Post Basic Nursing in prosthetics and orthotics topics. She also supervises students on clinical attachment posted to the department and carries out other duties as assigned by the Medical Director of the hospital.
Mrs. Aluko is a member of the International Society for Prosthetics/Orthotics (ISPO). She is also a member of the Nigerian Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists.
She has attended many training workshops and seminars relating to her job and healthcare delivery generally.
Juliana was married to Mr. Isaac Bissy Aluko in 1984. That union has been blessed with four children and a grandchild. She unfortunately lost the husband in a ghastly motor accident in 1997.
Mrs. Aluko effectively speaks English, French and Yoruba. She loves reading and watching documentary films. She is a devout Christian.
It was in recognition of her contribution to national development in the area of Healthcare Services that Mrs. Juliana Bodunde Aluko was conferred with the Woman of Merit Gold Award in 2016.