Anaesthesiologists have urged the Federal Government to invest in essential equipment, increase funding and strengthen anaesthesia services to improve patient safety before, during and after surgery.
The specialists made the call in a joint statement on Friday to mark World Anaesthesia Day 2026, observed annually on October 16, with the theme, “Before, During and Beyond Surgery.”
The day commemorates the first successful public demonstration of anaesthesia in 1846, a development that transformed modern surgery by making it possible to perform operations without pain.
In the statement signed by the Head of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Nisa Garki Hospital, Dr Julian Ojebo, the experts emphasised that safe surgery depended on safe anaesthesia and adequate care throughout the surgical process.
Ojebo stressed the importance of thorough preoperative assessment in identifying risks, preparing patients for surgery and preventing avoidable complications.
He said: “Before any surgery, we must carefully assess the patient’s medical history, co-existing illnesses and potential risks.
“That assessment helps us identify patients who need optimisation, choose the safest anaesthetic plan, and prevent avoidable complications.”
He warned that inadequate support for pre-anaesthetic clinics and poor preparation of patients could increase the likelihood of complications during and after surgery.
According to him, many preventable incidents associated with surgical care in Nigeria are linked to inadequate preoperative assessment, weak referral systems and patients arriving at healthcare facilities late.
Also Read:
The Chief Resident in Anaesthesia at the hospital, Dr Kolawole Shorunke, highlighted the need for continuous monitoring and functional equipment throughout surgical procedures.
Shorunke said: “During surgery, the anaesthesiologist is the patient’s life support.
“We monitor the heart, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing, and level of consciousness every second; we manage pain and blood loss, and respond instantly to any emergency.”
He explained that effective anaesthesia required more than skilled medical personnel, noting the importance of functional anaesthetic machines, monitoring devices, oxygen supplies, emergency drugs and reliable electricity.
Shorunke called on governments and hospital administrators to prioritise the procurement and maintenance of essential anaesthesia equipment, particularly in public hospitals.
On care after surgery, a Senior Registrar in Anaesthesia, Dr Aisha Muazu, said anaesthesiologists remained responsible for patients’ safe recovery and adequate pain relief beyond the operating theatre.
Muazu said: “Our work does not end when surgery ends. Beyond surgery, we ensure patients wake up safely, control their pain, breathe well, and quickly identify and treat complications like nausea, low blood pressure, or respiratory problems.”
She noted that effective postoperative pain management could help patients recover faster, move around earlier and spend less time in hospital.
Muazu also advocated stronger post-anaesthesia care units and acute pain management services to improve recovery and overall surgical outcomes.
Another specialist, Senior Resident Dr Chidera Jane Obi-Ekekwe, said this year’s theme highlighted the continuous role anaesthesiologists play in protecting patients at every stage of surgery.
Obi-Ekekwe said: “Before surgery, we prepare and optimise; during surgery, we protect life; and beyond surgery, we ensure patients recover without pain and without complications.”
She added that improving surgical safety required healthcare systems capable of adequately supporting anaesthesia services throughout patient care.
The specialists jointly called for stronger government policies and increased funding to expand access to safe surgical and anaesthesia services across the country.
They also urged authorities to provide more training opportunities and retention incentives for anaesthesiologists and nurse anaesthetists, improve access to essential medicines and medical consumables, and include anaesthesia and perioperative care in national health insurance coverage.
According to the experts, the proposed investments would help reduce preventable deaths and complications, expand access to safe surgery, retain skilled healthcare workers and strengthen Nigeria’s health system.
The statement stressed: “No patient should die or suffer disability because safe anaesthesia was not available or affordable.”
The specialists reaffirmed their commitment to patient safety and urged the government, hospital management and development partners to provide the equipment, skilled workforce and systems needed to deliver safe care before, during and beyond surgery.
[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']