·Uzodimma: Landmark procedure will make advanced healthcare more accessible, affordable
Imo State has recorded a major breakthrough in healthcare delivery with the successful completion of its first robotic-assisted surgery, making it the first such procedure to be performed in the region east of the Niger.
The landmark operation was carried out yesterday at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre (IROC), located within the Imo Specialist Hospital Complex, Umuguma, Owerri, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser Media to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku.
The procedure was performed by a team of Nigerian and international medical specialists led by Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, a UK-based consultant robotic and laparoscopic surgeon and an indigene of Imo State.
Addressing journalists after the operation, Ekwueme described the procedure as a complete success, stressing that robotic-assisted surgery offered significant advantages, particularly in the treatment of localised prostate cancer.
According to him, the technology enables surgeons to remove cancerous tissues with greater precision while preserving vital functions, including urinary and erectile control.
“The success rate of robotic surgery for cancer, especially prostate cancer, is phenomenal,” Ekwueme said, adding that patients should not have to endure prolonged incontinence or loss of sexual function following prostate surgery.
Governor Uzodimma, who witnessed the landmark procedure, described it as a major step towards providing residents with quality and affordable specialised healthcare within the state.
He said the facility would serve not only as a treatment centre but also as a platform for early detection and prevention of diseases through routine medical examinations.
“The real measure of success will be in the patients treated, the skills transferred, the specialists developed, the lives improved, and the confidence that our people build in our local healthcare system,” Uzodimma said.
The governor disclosed that the centre operates under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with the private sector providing the majority of the funding, a model he said would help guarantee the sustainability and quality management of the facility.
He urged residents to enrol in the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme to make advanced medical treatment more affordable and accessible.
Uzodimma had, ahead of the procedure, described the planned surgery as a major healthcare breakthrough and a product of strategic investments by his administration to transform medical care in the state.
He said the operation was led by Ekwueme alongside an international team of medical specialists from Europe and the United States.
The governor stressed that the establishment of the centre was not solely about acquiring sophisticated equipment, but also about developing the expertise required to operate and sustain the technology locally.
“Our plan has never been to acquire sophisticated medical equipment and leave it idle. Equipment must be matched with competence, and technology must be matched with training,” he said.
Uzodimma explained that robotic-assisted techniques offered greater precision, minimal invasiveness, reduced blood loss and faster recovery for patients.
He added that IROC formed part of a broader upgrade of the Imo Specialist Hospital Complex, which now includes expanded intensive care units, advanced diagnostic facilities, modern surgical theatres, neonatal care and specialised oncology departments.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding access to specialised healthcare through the Imo Health Insurance Scheme.
He said the state would continue to invest in healthcare infrastructure and human capital to position Imo as a destination for specialised medical treatment.
“This milestone is merely the beginning of Imo State’s journey toward becoming a premier destination for specialised medical care,” he said.