Lagos: The Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), a faith-based health facility, has unveiled a robotic surgery service to advance healthcare delivery and reduce medical tourism in the country. RHV launched the service during a dinner luncheon held in Lagos in partnership with ROBOMED Global, a U.S.-based medical technology and capacity-building firm.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was themed ‘Partnering to Advance Robotic Surgery in Nigeria’. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, highlighted the initiative as a significant advancement offering precision, faster healing, and improved health outcomes. He praised the leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for investing in infrastructure, personnel, and technology to provide world-class healthcare services. The programme aligns with the government’s health transformation agenda, focusing on improving health outcomes and reversing medical tourism from outbound to inbound.
Salako emphasized the importance of private sector participation in delivering high-end medical services, stating that the government will continue to promote policies and incentives to enhance domestic capacity, local manufacturing, research, innovation, and healthcare value-chain transformation. He also acknowledged RHV’s partners, ROBOMED, as a model of strategic partnerships bringing expertise home to support healthcare development. The initiative is expected to enhance the country’s capacity for precise and minimally invasive surgical care by Nigerian professionals trained to global standards, reducing the need for overseas treatment.
Former Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, spoke at the event, noting that robotic surgery would redefine surgical practice in Nigeria and West Africa through innovation and increased partnership. Mamora clarified that robotic surgery does not replace surgeons but empowers them, improving precision and dexterity. He stressed that the new service would increase the number of advanced surgical procedures performed locally, reducing financial burdens on families and allowing patients to remain within their support systems during critical illness. Mamora highlighted the need for trained healthcare professionals, supported by sustainable financing and continuous professional development, to ensure the success of robotic surgery.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of RCCG, represented by Pastor Joseph Obayemi, expressed the initiative’s commitment to the future of healthcare in the country. Adeboye stated that robotic-assisted surgery at RHV would harness technology to improve procedures and enhance patient outcomes. The initiative also aims to develop local expertise, train Nigerian surgeons, promote research, and reduce medical tourism.
Dr. Adedamola Dada, CEO of RHV, noted that the introduction of robotic surgery would provide better surgical outcomes, reduce trauma, and improve patient care. He emphasized the importance of growing local expertise to sustain the programme and highlighted the investment of four million dollars committed to service delivery and training. The training aspect will involve various healthcare professionals to ensure wider adoption of robotic surgery.
Prof. Obi Davies-Ekwenna, CEO of ROBOMED Global, stated that the partnership with RHV aims to provide safe, trusted, and high-quality surgical care within Nigeria, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment abroad. The vision is to increase access to world-class surgical care through sustainable programmes, training local surgeons, and strengthening healthcare systems across West Africa. Davies-Ekwenna expressed excitement about the initiative, describing RHV as a remarkable place with a dedicated team for carrying out robotic surgery.