‘We used phone torch to perform surgery,’ says Waka Waka Doctor on poor hospital conditions in Nigeria

UK-based Nigerian doctor and healthcare content creator, Waka Waka Doctor, has revealed the dire conditions under which many medical professionals work in Nigeria.

Speaking on the Jay on Air podcast, he recounted how inadequate hospital infrastructure often forced doctors to improvise during emergencies in order to save lives.

“We were using hanger guards — the ones people use to hang clothes — to set drips because there was no drip stand. And we used phone torchlight to do surgery. You put your phone in your mouth to operate because there was no power. Someone comes in with a gunshot wound or a tear, and you just have to find a way. You can’t let the person die,” he said.

The doctor also criticized the authorities’ response to Nigeria’s ongoing medical brain drain, noting that rather than addressing the root causes, officials often focus on restricting healthcare workers from leaving the country.

“When nurses started leaving, the solution wasn’t to make their lives better, it was to stop giving them licenses. What you should be asking is, how can we pay them better? How can we improve the facilities?” he stated.

He lamented that the Nigerian health system remains trapped in a cycle of neglect and poor leadership.

“We never learn from mistakes. Politicians look after their tummy first. Hospitals are still in terrible condition. It’s sad to see that what we faced a decade ago still exists today,” he added.