Nigeria performs first West Africa telerobotic surgery
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Redeemer’s Health Village in Nigeria completed the first telerobotic surgery in West Africa, connecting surgeons in Mowe, Ogun State, to a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja, a distance of 500 kilometers.
The surgeons performed a right radical nephrectomy, a procedure to remove a kidney, using a robotic system. This technology allows doctors to operate on patients remotely, potentially expanding access to advanced care.
Redeemer’s Health Village had also performed a robotic-assisted pyeloplasty, a reconstructive surgery to correct urinary flow obstruction, on a 28-year-old patient the same day. Dr. Adedamola Dada, Chief Executive Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, explained that the successful surgeries demonstrate a new era for healthcare in Nigeria and could allow surgeons from around the world to treat patients in the country. However, leaders at Redeemer’s Health Village emphasized the need for government support to train medical professionals in robotic surgery.
They believe that funding scholarships and sponsorships for surgeons, nurses, and biomedical engineers will be essential to build a sustainable workforce capable of using and maintaining the technology. Prof. Obi Davies-Ekwenna, the robotic surgeon who led the procedure, stated that this technology will help overcome geographical barriers to provide complex care across Nigeria.
