The Digest:
Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo, a consultant neurosurgeon at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, has been abducted by gunmen in Anambra State, highlighting the acute vulnerability of Nigeria's critical healthcare workforce. The Federal Ministry of Health condemned the kidnapping as a direct assault on national health security.
Key Points:
- Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo was kidnapped on October 30 along the New Nnewi-Oba Road.
- He was returning home after a long day performing surgeries at the hospital.
- The Federal Ministry of Health stated the abductors have made contact using his phone.
- Security agencies, including the police, DSS, and vigilantes, are involved in the search.
- Nigeria has fewer than 150 neurosurgeons serving a population of over 220 million.
- This equates to approximately one neurosurgeon per 1.9 million citizens.
- The ministry emphasized that health workers are national assets who must be protected.
Sources: TheCable, Federal Ministry of Health
