Many Nigerians have expressed shock after a post of a veterinary surgeon performing a surgery on an animal with the aid of a phone’s flashlight went viral on X, a micro-blogging platform.
I WAS THE ASSISTANT SURGEON TODAY!!😊 pic.twitter.com/fxjwTW1kge
— Rokky!💕 (@mama_rokky) May 13, 2025
The Guardian learnt that the animal she was operating on had a fractured femur and the female veterinary surgeon had to perform the operation in the absence of electricity.
“Do you know how insane it is to use a phone torch to do surgery?” one user questioned.
“Phone torch mid surgery. Nigeria is too behind,” another wrote.
While responding to their comments and reactions, the veterinary surgeon said she wondered why they were surprised because “this is Nigeria”.
“This is Nigeria! I don’t know why most of you are surprised,” she wrote.
This is Nigeria!
I don’t know why most of you are surprised!— Rokky!💕 (@mama_rokky) May 14, 2025
Not the first case
The Nigerian health sector is faced with a myriad of challenges. These include epileptic power supply, poor remuneration, and unfavourable working conditions for workers, leading to many healthcare workers migrating en masse in search of greener pastures.
The veterinary doctor’s experience reflects the challenges health workers face amid a poor power supply in the country.
Many doctors and healthcare professionals have lamented having to work in the dark, with some using flashlights to perform surgeries.
In February 2025, The Guardian reported how the University College Hospital (UCH) in Oyo State, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano battled prolonged power disruptions, leaving patients and health workers to battle the devastating consequences.
Nigerians on social media are urging the government to address challenges in the health sector.
