Imo State is set to commence robotic-assisted surgery on Friday, in what Governor Hope Uzodimma has described as a major milestone in the state’s healthcare development.
Channels Television reports that the procedure will be performed at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre (IROC), located within the reconstructed Imo Specialist Hospital in Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area.
Addressing journalists at the Government House in Owerri, Uzodimma said the initiative was part of his administration’s deliberate investment in modern healthcare infrastructure, specialist services and medical technology.
He said the reconstruction and expansion of the Imo Specialist Hospital was aimed at establishing a modern specialist institution capable of treating complex medical conditions without patients having to seek care outside the state.
According to him, the hospital now has modern accident and emergency facilities, intensive care and neonatal intensive care units, dedicated theatres, medical oxygen infrastructure, diagnostic services, maternity and paediatric facilities, physiotherapy, mental health services and specialist wards.
The governor said the robotic surgical system had been installed and the theatre prepared for clinical use, adding that the acquisition of the technology was being complemented by specialist expertise and knowledge transfer.
The first procedure will be led by Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, a UK-based Consultant Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon, alongside other medical professionals.
Uzodimma said the partnership would not only facilitate the use of the technology but also expose local medical personnel to advanced surgical techniques.
He explained that robotic-assisted surgery could offer greater precision and control in appropriate procedures, while supporting minimally invasive surgery, reducing blood loss and potentially shortening patients’ recovery time.
The governor said the development would particularly benefit residents who previously had to travel to Lagos or outside the country for complex specialist treatment.
He added that the robotic surgery initiative would run alongside oncology services at the centre, strengthening the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Uzodimma said the hospital was also being equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities, including MRI, CT scan, mammography and X-ray services, to create an integrated specialist environment for diagnosis, treatment, surgery and follow-up care.
He further disclosed that the facility would have an internal medical oxygen production and distribution system, while a hybrid power solution would support uninterrupted operations.
On access to healthcare, the governor said the state government was working through the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme to enable residents to access quality medical services without being overwhelmed by treatment costs.
Uzodimma said the hospital was expected to serve people across different social groups while providing doctors, nurses, surgeons, technicians and other health professionals with opportunities to work with modern equipment and develop advanced skills.
He described the commencement of robotic-assisted surgery as the beginning of a broader healthcare transformation, rather than an end in itself.
According to him, the success of the initiative will ultimately be measured by the number of patients treated, skills transferred, specialists developed and lives improved.
The governor pledged that his administration would continue investing in healthcare infrastructure, medical technology and specialist manpower to improve access to advanced medical care and reduce the need for residents to seek treatment outside Imo State.
(Channels Tv)
