*Says, Nigeria requires 702 paediatric surgeons to address surgical workforce crisis
By Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja
The minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire has decried the shortage of surgical experts in the health sector saying, Nigeria at the moment requires an additional 702 Paediatric Surgeons to address the deficit.
Dr Ehanire who disclosed that about 65% of Nigerians are impoverished every year due to surgical care said, another 66% of Nigerians incur catastrophic expenditure due to surgical care.
Speaking during the National Surgical Obstertrics Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan (NSOANP), and Cleft Stakeholders’ Conference in Abuja, Dr Ehanire despite the World Health Organisation, WHO recommended surgical workforce density of 20 per 100,000 population, Nigeria as at 2019, has only 1.65 per 100,000 population.
The minister who was represented by the Director hospital services, Federal Ministry of health, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi,
said, the density of paediatric surgeons is worse, at 0.14/100,000 children below 15 years against the recommended density of 1/100,000 children.
He said, ” There are only one surgeon, obstetrician, anaesthetist/100,000 population against the WHO recommended 20/100,000 population.
”The density of paediatric surgeons is even worse, at 0.14/100,000 children below 15 years against the recommended density of 1/100,000 children.
“It is estimated that 65% or more of Nigerians are impoverished every year due to surgical care and 66% incur catastrophic expenditure due to surgical care.
Although Health insurance exists, it covers only about 5% of the population and there’s no financial risk protection against surgical care for majority of Nigerians”.
The minister further noted that implementation of the NSOANP will strengthen existing healthcare facilities to provide emergency and essential surgical care and improve access to surgical care for teeming Nigerians in need.
“Implementation of the plan will therefore strengthen existing healthcare facilities to provide emergency and essential surgical care and improve access to surgical care for teeming Nigerians in need.
“NSOANP is the Nigeria’s product of compliance with the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution 68/15 which mandates member states to ensure that emergency and essential surgical services are integral components of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“My profound appreciation goes to all stakeholders that contributed to the successful production of this plan and those leveraging on it like Smile Train to boost surgery (cleft surgeries) in Nigeria through MoU with FMOH”, the minister added.
Earlier Smile Train Vice President and Regional Director, Africa, Mrs Nkeiruka Obi said it was unfortunate that neglected surgical conditions continue to be a burden among many of our underserved communities.
She stressed the need for collective efforts to ensure prioritization of patients with cleft in receiving safe, timely and quality treatment.
Mrs Obi added that Smile Train in its bid to ensure comprehensive cleft management had deployed tools to general hospitals and primary health centres across the country.
“Neglected surgical conditions continue to be a burden among many of our underserved communities including access to safe and affordable care.
In efforts to change the narrative on getting data on patients with cleft, the revolutionary cleft e-registry platform has enabled researchers and policy makers with empirical evidence on cleft in Nigeria,” she added.
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