Before You Go Under: Nigeria’s Shortage of Anaesthetists Puts Every Surgery at Risk

When you are wheeled into an operating theatre, the surgeon gets most of the attention. But the person who keeps you breathing, your heart steady and your pain controlled is the anaesthetist.

World Anaesthesia Day, marked on October 16, commemorates the first successful public demonstration of ether anaesthesia in 1846, 180 years ago this year. This year’s global theme, set by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists, focused on care “before, during and beyond surgery,” from emergency rooms and intensive care to pain management and palliative care.

Nigeria’s gap

The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) warned this month of a “critical shortage of physician anaesthetists.” In 2022, the society put the number at about 1,200 for a population of over 200 million, and doctors continue to emigrate.

The NSA says many centres also lack basic monitoring equipment. It called on federal and state governments to hire more anaesthetists, improve pay and welfare to retain them, and properly equip operating theatres and intensive care units to meet minimum safety standards.

At the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, head of anaesthesia Dr Joshua Oni said many facilities face severe shortages of trained staff and equipment, and that the public barely understands the specialty because it works “behind the scenes.”

Why it matters to you

Without enough anaesthetists, surgeries are delayed, emergency caesarean sections take longer, and some procedures are done with less monitoring than they need. Anaesthetists also run intensive care and pain services, from cancer pain to chronic back pain.

Before any operation, ask:

• Will a qualified anaesthetist be present throughout?
• How will my breathing, heart rate and oxygen be monitored?
• What should I know about eating, drinking and my regular medicines beforehand?

Safe surgery is a team effort. Nigeria needs more of the team members you never see.