Airway management specialists in Nigeria have identified inadequate medical equipment, shortages of trained personnel, and funding constraints as major factors contributing to airway-related emergencies in hospitals across the country. The experts raised the concerns at the 4th Annual Scientific Conference of the Society of Specialists in Airway Management (SSAM) held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Speaking at the event, Dr Aderonke Adesiyan, a Consultant Anaesthesiologist, said many airway disasters stem not from inadequate technical competence but from systemic failures, poor communication, inadequate preparation, and weak leadership structures. She called for increased healthcare funding and sustained training programmes to strengthen airway safety systems.
Also speaking, Consultant Paediatric Anaesthesiologist, Dr Maryrose Osazuwa, stressed that airway management is inherently multidisciplinary and requires collaboration among healthcare professionals with varying levels of expertise. She underscored the urgent need for governments at all levels to invest in modern medical equipment and make continuous professional training mandatory for healthcare workers.
A Consultant Anaesthesiologist, Dr Ellen O’Sullivan, spoke on the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork, simulation-based training, emerging airway technologies, and evidence-based clinical protocols in enhancing patient outcomes.
Another Consultant Anaesthesiologist Dr Kazeem Adegboyega, described airway management as a cornerstone of emergency medicine, warning that inadequate expertise contributes significantly to airway-related morbidity and mortality.
Professor Olusola AbdulRahman Afolabi, an Otorhinolaryngologist, urged hospitals to involve airway management specialists in the assessment and care of patients undergoing high-risk surgical procedures to improve clinical outcomes.
In his remarks as Special guest of honour, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr Taoheed Abdullahi Ayodeji, emphasized the vital role of airway management in quality healthcare, lauding SSAM for advancing airway management through research, training, innovation and clinical excellence. He stressed the importance of specialists collaboration, while reaffirming the state government’s commitment to healthcare development.
The conference also featured contributions from international and local experts who advocated stronger collaboration to improve patient safety.
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