Nigeria has less than 60 neurosurgeons – Prof Ohaegbulam

Nigeria has less than 60 neurosurgeons while West Africa has less than 200, the President of the Neurosurgical Society of Nigeria, Professor Sam Ohaegbulam, has said, adding that the inadequacy was leading to avoidable deaths from accidents.

Professor Ohaegbulam disclosed this when he led members of the Neurosurgery Society of Nigeria on a visit to FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to intimate him on the conference by Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (CAANS) scheduled for Abuja in July, next year.

A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist who treats diseases and conditions affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spine and spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves.

Professor Ohaegbulam said over 350 delegates and experts would grace the event from across the world and talk about different, crucial topics in the world of neurosurgery.

Responding, the FCT minister described neurosurgery as a critical component of the FCT Administration’s programme of the delivery of effective health services in the territory.

The minister, represented by the Director of Human Resources, Hajia Amina Abubakar, said, “Abuja as a growing city needs all the backing it can muster to attain a great city status, medically and otherwise. Your choice of Abuja is therefore very timely and welcome.”