Imo launches robotic-assisted surgery at Owerri hospital

HealthNewsNigeria

Imo launches robotic-assisted surgery at Owerri hospital

Published on

August 21, 2026

Gong

Governor Hope Uzodimma inspecting facilities at the Imo Specialist Hospital in Owerri

Imo State is set to commence robotic-assisted surgery in Owerri as the government expands access to advanced specialist healthcare.

The first procedure is scheduled for Friday at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre (IROC), located within the reconstructed Imo Specialist Hospital in Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area.

Governor Hope Uzodimma announced the development while addressing journalists at the Government House in Owerri, describing it as a major milestone in the state’s healthcare development.

According to the governor, the robotic surgical system has been installed and the theatre prepared for clinical use. The initiative is being supported by specialist expertise and knowledge transfer to local medical professionals.

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 would expose local healthcare workers to advanced surgical techniques while enabling the state to build specialist capacity.

Robotic-assisted surgery can give surgeons greater precision and control in appropriate procedures. It can also support minimally invasive surgery, which may reduce blood loss and shorten recovery time for some patients.

The governor said the development was particularly important for residents who previously had to travel to Lagos or outside Nigeria for complex specialist treatment.

He said the reconstructed Imo Specialist Hospital now includes an 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 IROC is also being developed alongside oncology services, with the cancer facility expected to strengthen cancer diagnosis and treatment in the state.

Uzodimma disclosed that the hospital was being equipped with MRI, CT scan, mammography and X-ray services to provide an integrated specialist healthcare environment covering diagnosis, treatment, surgery and follow-up care.

The facility is also expected to have an internal medical oxygen production and distribution system, while a hybrid power solution will support its operations.

On affordability, the governor said the government was working through the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme to help residents access quality healthcare without being overwhelmed by treatment costs.

Uzodimma said the broader objective was to reduce the financial, logistical and emotional burden faced by patients who travel outside the state for specialised medical care.

He stressed that the launch of robotic-assisted surgery was only the beginning of a wider healthcare transformation, with the success of the initiative to be measured by patients treated, skills transferred, specialists developed and lives improved.

DON'T MISS

Spain calls snap election amid housing crisis protests

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap general election for November 29 after parliament rejected his government’s housing relief measures amid growing protests over soaring rents and house prices. Sánchez, who has been prime minister since 2018, announced the election in a televised address on Monday, saying he needed a broader parliamentary mandate to advance his government’s agenda. The election was originally not due until August 2027. Housing Crisis Fuels Political Pressure The snap election follows the defeat of housing measures proposed by Sánchez’s minority coalition government. The proposals included automatic renewal of tenancy agreements and restrictions on evicting vulnerable tenants. Opposition parties rejected the measures, with Catalan separatist party Junts also voting against them despite its importance to the government’s parliamentary support. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Madrid and other Spanish cities demanding affordable housing. Hundreds of protesters have also maintained a tent camp in central Madrid for more than a week. The demonstrations intensified following the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home, where she had lived for more than seven decades. Housing campaigners said an investment company that acquired the property sought to raise her rent by 275 per cent. The backlash eventually resulted in an agreement allowing Abascal to return at a lower rent. Rents Nearly Double in a Decade Spain’s housing affordability crisis has become a major political issue as demand continues to outpace supply. According to property website Idealista, average rents in Spain have almost doubled over the past decade, while asking prices for homes have increased by about 90 per cent. Sánchez defended his government’s economic record, arguing that Spain has grown faster than major European peers under his leadership and that unemployment has fallen. However, rising living costs and housing expenses have left many households struggling to benefit from the wider economic growth. Opposition Leads in Polls The conservative Popular Party (PP) has generally led the Socialists in recent opinion polls. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo welcomed the election announcement and questioned whether Sánchez should receive another term after eight years in power. However, polls suggest the PP could fall short of an outright parliamentary majority and may need support from the far-right Vox to form a government. The election is expected to turn the housing crisis, the economy, migration and allegations of corruption involving figures close to Sánchez into major campaign issues.

Categories

Navigate

Connect With Us

Categories

Navigate

Connect With Us

Categories

Navigate

Connect With Us

Categories

Navigate

Connect With Us