Lagos Hospital Performs 212 Prostate Surgeries in 2025

One Lagos hospital is proving that advanced cancer care can thrive in Africa, completing 212 life-saving prostate surgeries in a single year without losing a single cancer patient.

Kelina Hospital in Victoria Island announced the milestone this weekend, revealing that 101 of those surgeries targeted prostate cancer over the past two years. Every cancer patient survived, a remarkable achievement in a country where prostate cancer kills an estimated 11,443 men annually.

The numbers reflect a growing health crisis. Nigeria records more than 18,000 new prostate cancer cases each year, making it the most common cancer among men in sub-Saharan Africa. Most patients arrive too late for effective treatment, but this hospital is changing that story.

Lead urologist Celsus Undie credits the success to early detection and immediate surgical action. "The most effective treatment for any cancer, including prostate cancer, is radical surgery," the hospital explained. Once cancer spreads beyond the prostate, treatment often can no longer cure the disease.

Kelina Hospital offers three surgical options: open surgery, laparoscopic procedures, and robot-assisted operations. The robotic approach is preferred for most patients because it's less invasive and promotes faster recovery. One surgeon on staff has performed over 2,000 robotic procedures, bringing world-class expertise to Nigerian patients.

The hospital also treats benign prostate enlargement, which blocks urine flow and threatens kidney function in older men. Since introducing laser surgery in 2018, they've completed over 600 procedures with a mortality rate below 0.2 percent. These minimally invasive techniques spare patients from long-term catheter use and repeated infections.

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends beyond individual lives saved. By demonstrating that complex surgeries can succeed in Nigeria, Kelina Hospital is building confidence in local healthcare systems across West Africa.

Four specialized urologists staffed the facility in 2025, including Nigerian doctors trained internationally who returned home to serve their communities. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has supported this growth by enabling diaspora surgeons to practice locally, expanding access to advanced care.

The hospital maintains an overall surgical mortality rate below one percent across more than 6,000 procedures in multiple specialties. They attribute this safety record to teamwork, structured protocols, and strict adherence to international standards.

Health experts recommend that African men begin prostate cancer screening between ages 40 and 45, earlier than screening guidelines in other regions. Early prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms, making routine testing crucial for catching the disease when it's still curable.

This single hospital's achievement shows what's possible when advanced medical technology meets committed healthcare teams, offering a blueprint for cancer care across the continent.