The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has called for increased recruitment, improved welfare and better-equipped operating theatres and intensive care units nationwide to strengthen patient safety before, during and after surgery.
The society made the call in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Agwu Nnanna, in Abuja on Thursday, ahead of World Anaesthesia Day 2026, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16.
According to the statement, the NSA joins the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) to commemorate the annual event celebrating the birth of modern anaesthesia.
It said the celebration, themed Before, During and Beyond Surgery, highlighted the critical role anaesthetists play in ensuring patient safety throughout surgical procedures and recovery.
The NSA President, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, said anaesthetists remained essential to Nigeria’s healthcare system, although their contributions were often overlooked by the public.
He explained that anaesthetists assessed patients’ fitness for surgery, maintain their safety and comfort during operations, and support their recovery afterwards.
Mohammed said that postoperative care could take place in Post-Anaesthesia Care Units (PACUs) or Intensive Care Units (ICUs), depending on patients’ clinical needs.
He identified a critical shortage of physician anaesthetists, inadequate monitoring equipment in many healthcare facilities and limited public awareness of the profession’s responsibilities as major challenges.
He called on federal and state governments to urgently recruit more anaesthetists and improve their remuneration and welfare to strengthen workforce retention.
Mohammed also urged governments to provide adequate training support and equip operating theatres and intensive care units to meet minimum patient safety standards.
Furthermore, the society reaffirmed its commitment to continuous professional training, advocacy and collaboration to reduce anaesthesia-related maternal and surgical deaths across Nigeria.
He commended anaesthetists working under difficult conditions nationwide, acknowledging their dedication to protecting patients and improving surgical outcomes
