Nigeria Records West Africa’s First Telerobotic Surgery Across 500km
Nigeria has recorded what health officials described as West Africa’s first telerobotic surgery, with surgeons in Ogun State remotely operating on a patient about 500 kilometres away in Abuja.
The procedure was performed by Redeemer’s Health Village in Mowe, Ogun State, in collaboration with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.
The operation was a right radical nephrectomy to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour. The surgeon controlled a robotic system from the Redeemer’s Health Village while the patient remained at Nisa Premier Hospital.
Prof. Obi Davies-Ekwenna, who led the procedure, said the successful operation demonstrated how telesurgery could help overcome geographical barriers and connect patients with specialist surgeons without requiring them to travel.
Redeemer’s Health Village chief executive, Dr Adedamola Dada, said the development could eventually allow specialists outside Nigeria to operate remotely on patients in the country.
However, Dada identified a shortage of trained personnel as a major challenge to expanding robotic surgery. He called for government-backed training and scholarships for surgeons, nurses and biomedical engineers.
The facility also announced plans for a robotic surgery academy aimed at developing local expertise and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on overseas medical treatment.
