•Governor Hope Uzodimma inspecting facilities at the Imo Specialist Hospital
Imo State will commence robotic-assisted surgery today in what Governor Hope Uzodimma described as a major milestone in the state’s healthcare development.
The procedure will be performed at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre (IROC), located within the reconstructed Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area, reports Channels TV.
Addressing newsmen 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 conceived to provide the state with a modern specialist institution capable of managing complex medical conditions without patients having to travel outside the state.
According to him, the hospital now has a modern accident and emergency section, intensive care and neonatal intensive care facilities, 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, stressing that the acquisition of the technology was being complemented with specialist expertise and knowledge transfer.
The first procedure will be led by Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, a United Kingdom-based Consultant Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon, alongside other medical professionals.
Uzodimma said the partnership was designed not only to facilitate the use of the technology but also to expose local medical personnel to advanced surgical techniques.
He noted that robotic-assisted surgery could provide surgeons with 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 was particularly significant for residents who had previously been compelled to travel to Lagos or outside the country for complex specialist treatment.
He said the state government was determined to reduce the financial, logistical and emotional burden associated with seeking medical care outside Imo.
Uzodimma added that the robotic surgery initiative was being developed alongside oncology services at the centre, with the cancer facility expected to strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
He said the hospital was also being equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities, including MRI, CT scan, mammography and X-ray services, with the objective of creating an integrated specialist environment where diagnosis, treatment, surgery and follow-up care could be provided.
The governor 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 care, Uzodimma said the government was working through the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure that residents could benefit from quality healthcare without being overwhelmed by the cost of treatment.
He said the hospital was expected to serve residents across different social groups while providing doctors, nurses, surgeons, technicians and other health professionals with opportunities to work with modern equipment and acquire advanced skills.
The governor commended Professor Ekwueme, the management and staff of the Imo Specialist Hospital, engineers, contractors and other professionals involved in the project.
He, however, stressed that the commencement of robotic-assisted surgery should be regarded 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.
Uzodimma said his administration would continue to invest in healthcare infrastructure, medical technology and specialist manpower, with the goal of restoring public confidence in the capacity of healthcare institutions within the state.
He said the commencement of robotic-assisted surgery represented another step towards ensuring that Imo residents could access advanced medical care without leaving home.
