Professor of Surgery Faculty of Clinical Sciences College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Adesoji Ademuyiwa, has advocated health insurance coverage for children with congenital anomalies, cancers and trauma.

In his inaugural lecture at the university campus, he also disclosed that about five billion people across the world did not have access to safe anaesthesia, obstetric care and surgery.

Speaking on the topic: “Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me…” The surgeries; The surgeon’s sojourn in collaborative research,” he suggested:  “We advocate for free surgeries in the best scenario and the worst case scenario, all children with congenital anomalies, cancers and trauma should have health insurance coverage. These conditions are not due to the fault of the child.”

Saying access to safe surgery and anaesthesia is essential for Nigerian children, he, however, observed surgical workforce in the country was heavily deficient. He said it had been worsened in the last few years by the japa syndrome.

As a way out, he stressed the need for improved condition of service as an immediate stopgap measure.

He said: “Medium and intermediate interventions will include an upgrade of facilities to the surgical specialities and innovative techniques to shorten the training time.”