The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) says there are only 800 anaesthetists in Nigeria catering for a population of over 200million people.
Anaesthetists are specialist doctors that provide anaesthesia and pain management to patients before, during and after operations and surgical procedures.
The president of the society, Professor Elizabeth Ogboli Nwasor, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the organisation’s 30th scientific conference and annual general meeting titled, ‘Technology for the Advancement of Anaesthesia.”
She said the number was grossly inadequate, and not acceptable, according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standards.
Corps members constitute 63% of teachers in Anambra – Coordinator
Famous leaders are made, not born
She said, “We were less than 1,200, but with this exodus out of the country we are now less than a thousand. We are about 800 anaesthetists catering for the whole population of 200million people.”
Major-General Obashina Ogunbiyi, the guest lecturer, in his presentation on the nexus between the anaesthesia workforce and research in Nigeria, called on the federal government to increase funding for research grants in tertiary institutions, adding that it would encourage health professionals to remain in the country and reduce brain drain.
The minister of state for health, Joseph Ekumankama said the federal government had noted the call to equip the various hospitals, provide adequate infrastructure and improve the emoluments of doctors, and especially encourage and fund the training of anaesthesia specialists.
Represented by Dr David Atuwo , the senior technical adviser to the minister, he said the ministry would find lasting solutions to the problems of placement caste and career progressions of persons with qualifications like Diploma and Membership in Anaesthesia of both National and West African Postgraduate Medical Colleges as a way encourage middle-level manpower development in anaesthesia.
