Imo State is set to make another history tomorrow as it becomes the first state in the southeast to operate a robotic assisted surgical procedure.
Medical experts from the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America are already in the state for the commencement of the procedure at the newly established Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre located within the revamped Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri.
An elated Governor Hope Uzodimma who announced the historic milestone during a pre-procedure briefing at the Government House Owerri,described the achievement as a testament to strategic state investments by the state government aimed at revolutionizing local medical care.
He disclosed that the landmark operation will be led by a UK-based consultant robotic and laparoscopic surgeon, Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, an indigene of Imo State.
Uzodimma emphasized that the state-of-the-art facility at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre was built not just for advanced patient care but as a hub for continuous skill transfer to local healthcare workers
”Our plan has never been to acquire sophisticated medical equipment and leave it idle. Equipment must be matched with competence, and technology must be matched with training,” Uzodimma stated.
He highlighted that robotic-assisted techniques offer superior precision, minimal invasiveness, reduced blood loss, and significantly faster recovery times for patients.
The Robotics and Oncology Centre, he said, is part of a broader upgrade to the Imo Specialist Hospital Complex, which now boasts expanded Intensive Care Units (ICU), advanced diagnostic facilities, modern surgical theatres, neonatal care, and specialized oncology departments.
To ensure equitable access to these high-end medical services, the governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to expanding coverage through the Imo Health Insurance Scheme.
”The real measure of success will be in the patients treated, the skills transferred, the specialists developed, the lives improved, and the confidence that our people build in our local healthcare system,” Uzodimma noted, adding that this milestone is just the beginning of Imo State’s journey toward becoming a premier destination for specialized medical care.
