Nigeria has recorded its first tele-robotic surgery in what health officials and the institutions involved described as a major step for advanced medical care in West Africa.
The procedure was performed Saturday by the Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), in collaboration with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja.
The surgery was carried out in real time from a Toumai robotic console at RHV on a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.
The procedure was a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumor.
Tele-robotic surgery allows a surgeon to operate on a patient from a different location.
Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, professor of urology and transplantation and co-founder of RoboMed Global, led the procedure.
He said the operation showed that telesurgery could safely connect patients with specialist surgeons regardless of location.
“Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery; this is what safe and trusted surgery looks like,” Ekwenna-Davis said.
He said the operation lasted about three hours, with brief pauses to ensure the equipment and systems were functioning properly.
The patient was reportedly in good condition and expected to be discharged within 24 hours.
Adedamola Dada, chief executive officer of RHV, said the development marked the first telesurgery in West Africa and could help reduce medical tourism.
“What has happened today is a demonstration that Nigerians can access modern healthcare without travelling abroad,” Dada said.
He said RHV was establishing a robotic academy with RoboMed Global to train surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers and other medical professionals.
The academy aims to train at least 150 surgeons within two years. Dada also urged the government to sponsor Nigerians for robotic surgery training.
Ibrahim Wada, CEO of Nisa Premier Hospital, said the procedure showed what Nigerian institutions could achieve through collaboration.
“Today, our patient received specialist surgical expertise from across the country without leaving Abuja,” Wada said.
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