Nigeria faces a significant shortage of gynaecologists, with only about 2,200 specialists available to assist the approximately seven million births that occur annually.
In Nigeria, there is a critical shortage of gynaecologists, with only around 2,200 registered practitioners to serve a burgeoning population of over 240 million people. According to the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), this number falls far short of the estimated need for more than 7,000 obstetricians and gynaecologists nationwide, especially given the annual statistic of around seven million births. This gap indicates a pressing issue in maternal healthcare accessibility across the country.
The situation is exacerbated as most obstetricians and gynaecologists tend to concentrate in urban areas, leaving the rural regions underserved at a time when they are facing high maternal mortality rates. Prof. Christopher Aimakhu, the Second Vice President of SOGON, emphasized that these rural areas lack adequately skilled medical professionals necessary for providing essential maternal care, which further compounds the issue of maternal health and safety during childbirth.
Moreover, the adverse effects of insecurity, such as the frequent kidnapping of healthcare professionals, contribute to the migration of medical practitioners from rural to urban centers, alongside factors like low pay and substandard working conditions. This trend poses a significant challenge for the Nigerian healthcare system, indicating an urgent need for policy interventions and support mechanisms to ensure better distribution and retention of healthcare professionals across all regions of the country.
