The Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, has performed its first robotic-assisted surgery, marking a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to expand access to advanced healthcare services.
The procedure was carried out on Friday at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre within the hospital and was led by Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a Consultant Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon and Lead Urological Surgeon at Glan Clwyd Hospital in the United Kingdom.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Electronic and Creative Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu.
Nwaogwugwu described the procedure as a major step in the state’s healthcare transformation, saying advanced medical technology was now being brought closer to residents.
He said the development was part of broader efforts to make quality healthcare more accessible through the Imo State Health Insurance Programme, under which eligible residents can access healthcare services for N15,000 per person annually.
According to the statement, the hospital has undergone extensive renovations and upgrades, including the establishment of a dedicated Robotics Centre equipped with modern medical technology under a public-private partnership arrangement.
The facility was established as part of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s efforts to reduce the number of Nigerians who travel abroad for specialised medical treatment.
The Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre combines robotic surgical capabilities with oncology services and is expected to improve the state’s capacity to diagnose and treat cancer, urological conditions and other complex diseases.
The centre is also expected to provide opportunities for specialist training and international collaboration while helping to retain medical expenditure within the country.
Explaining the benefits of the technology, Nwaogwugwu said robotic-assisted surgery provides greater precision, improved visualisation, enhanced dexterity and better control during complex procedures.
Depending on the nature of the operation and the patient’s condition, he said the technology could also result in smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, shorter recovery periods and improved surgical outcomes.
The state government described the centre as one of its most ambitious healthcare initiatives and said it was designed to position Imo as a leading destination for advanced healthcare innovation in Nigeria and Africa.
Friday’s procedure, according to the statement, marked the transition of the centre from an infrastructure project into a fully operational facility capable of providing highly specialised medical care.
The development comes amid longstanding concerns over medical tourism, with many Nigerians travelling abroad to access specialised treatment.
The state government said the new facility would provide a viable alternative within Nigeria.
Nwaogwugwu added that doctors and nurses at the centre were optimistic about the development when Governor Uzodimma inspected the facility on Wednesday.
