Nigeria records first tele-robotic surgery in West Africa

Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja, Nigeria, has made history by performing the first tele-robotic surgery in the country and West Africa, in partnership with RoboMed Global and The Redeemer’s Health Village in Lagos. The groundbreaking kidney cancer surgery was carried out on a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital, with Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis remotely controlling the robotic surgical platform from Redeemer’s Health Village.

The three-hour procedure was performed to remove a cancerous kidney, and the patient was discharged following a successful outcome. Nisa Premier Hospital CEO Dr. Ibrahim Wada highlighted the potential of tele-robotic surgery to connect specialist expertise with patients across Nigeria, potentially reducing the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for specialized medical treatment.

He noted that the technology could allow patients to recover in as little as 24 hours and provide greater precision during surgery. Wada emphasized the importance of stable and secure communication networks for telesurgery, likening the arrangement to aviation where pilots remain on standby in case of technical issues. The hospital experienced some connectivity delays during the first procedure, but the medical team successfully overcame the challenges.

RoboMed provided remote surgical expertise and safety support, while Redeemer’s Health Village hosted the remote surgeon. Wada envisions a future where Nigerian patients can access specialists from countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and India without traveling abroad, provided the necessary infrastructure is in place.

The collaboration also aims for Nigerian specialists to remotely operate on patients in other countries, bridging the gap in shared expertise.