“We used phone torch to do surgery” — Waka Waka Doctor recounts harsh realities Nigerian doctors face

Healthcare content creator and UK-based Nigerian doctor, Waka Waka Doctor, has opened up about the difficult working conditions doctors face in Nigeria.

Speaking on the Jay on Air podcast, he recalled how poor hospital infrastructure forced medical professionals to improvise with basic items just to save lives.

In his words:

“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 also criticized how authorities respond to the ongoing medical brain drain, saying the system often focuses on restricting migration instead of fixing root problems.

“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?”

Waka Waka Doctor concluded that Nigeria’s health sector is still stuck in the same cycle of neglect:

“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.”