Nigeria Performs First Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery In West Africa
In a historic medical achievement, Nigeria has become the first country in West Africa to successfully perform robotic prostate cancer surgery. The groundbreaking procedure was led by Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, a UK-based Consultant Urological/Robotic Surgeon, at The Prostate Clinic (TPC) in Lagos on Monday.
The Prostate Clinic (TPC) is West Africa’s first super-specialised centre for robotic and laparoscopic surgery, offering advanced treatments for prostate cancer and other urological conditions. At the heart of this medical breakthrough is the Da Vinci robotic surgical system, a state-of-the-art technology that allows for minimally invasive procedures with unparalleled precision.
The robotic arms of the Da Vinci system mimic human hand movements, offering seven degrees of freedom, which enhances surgical accuracy while minimising blood loss, post-operative pain, and recovery time. This allows patients to be discharged within 24 hours, with minimal scarring and no need for blood transfusions.
Professor Ekwueme, who has been performing keyhole surgeries in Nigeria since 2022, expressed his excitement about the milestone, stating, “This is a dream come true. With robotic surgery, we can save lives and provide world-class prostate cancer treatment right here in Nigeria. No man should have to travel abroad for care when we now have cutting-edge solutions at home.”
Before this development, the Da Vinci system was only available in South Africa within the African continent. With Nigeria’s successful surgery, the country is now part of the global community that employs robotic-assisted surgery for prostate cancer, placing Nigeria at the forefront of medical innovation in West Africa.
The system’s advanced three-dimensional imaging provides surgeons with superior visibility, allowing for intricate procedures while preserving critical nerves that aid in post-surgery recovery. Ekwueme emphasized that the key goal is to make this advanced surgical treatment more accessible to Nigerians, ensuring that no patient is turned away due to financial constraints.
In addition to prostate cancer surgeries, Professor Ekwueme has performed kidney cancer surgeries, bladder cancer treatments, and procedures for benign prostate enlargement. He also revealed plans to introduce a non-invasive treatment for enlarged prostates, a groundbreaking technology that has never been performed in Africa, with the official unveiling expected in the near future.
Ekwueme also called for greater government and institutional partnerships to train more surgeons in robotic and minimally invasive surgery techniques, ensuring that advanced medical care becomes widely available across Nigeria.
