As part of its commitment to expanding access to advanced, technology-driven surgeries, Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV) has achieved what it describes as West Africa’s first telerobotic surgery.
The groundbreaking procedure took place at RHV in Mowe, Ogun State, over the weekend.
Telerobotic surgery, or remote surgery, enables a surgeon to operate on a patient from a distant location. In this case, RHV surgeons in Mowe performed a right radical nephrectomy on a patient based at Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, collaborating with RoboMed Global.
The operation was made possible by connecting the surgical robot in Abuja to the robotic control system at RHV via a secure internet link.
Discussing the success of the procedure, RHV’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adedamola Dada, described it as a major breakthrough for Nigeria and the region. “This is a huge step forward and marks the first instance of telesurgery in West Africa,” he said. “With this technology, even the most complex cases can be managed by experts anywhere in the world, including surgeons based in the United States operating on patients here.”
Earlier that same day, RHV also performed a robotic-assisted pyeloplasty on a 28-year-old patient. Dr. Dada explained, “Pyeloplasty involves reconstructing the renal pelvis to remove obstructions and restore normal urine flow. The immediate improvement was clear in the operating room as soon as the blockage was removed.”
Dr. Dada called on the Federal Government to invest in training medical professionals in robotic surgery, stressing that developing local expertise is crucial to sustaining this technological advancement. He noted that while acquiring equipment is less of a challenge, building a skilled workforce is essential. “We need government support to sponsor and offer scholarships to surgeons, nurses, and biomedical engineers interested in robotic surgery training. With such support, within a few years, Nigeria could have a robust pool of professionals capable of performing and supporting these advanced procedures.”
Lead robotic surgeon for the operation, Prof. Obi Davies-Ekwenna, emphasized that this achievement demonstrates how technology can overcome geographic barriers and expand access to complex medical care across Nigeria. “We successfully operated on a patient 500 kilometers away, treating a kidney cancer tumor with precision. Telesurgery allows access to expert care from anywhere in the world, delivering excellent outcomes,” he said.
RHV Board Chairman, Dr. Kunle Onokoya, also highlighted that robotic surgery is making previously inoperable cases now treatable, marking a new era in Nigerian healthcare.
The kind of surgery that otherwise would have been inoperable, meaning that the risk from surgery was too great, is now being done with robot-assisted surgery,” he said.
