Nigeria Hospital Performs First Female Robotic Surgery

A woman in Lagos, Nigeria, made medical history yesterday when surgeons removed two large ovarian tumors using robotic technology, and she walked out of the hospital just hours later.

The Prostate Clinic in Lagos performed what experts are calling West Africa's first robotic gynecological surgery on the 30-year-old patient. She had suffered from painful tumors for six months, but within 24 hours of the procedure, she'll be back at work.

"With robotic surgery, we removed two big tumors, she will go home today and return to work tomorrow," said Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, the facility's medical director and consultant robotic surgeon. Traditional open surgery would have required weeks of hospital stay and months of recovery.

The technology represents a major leap forward for Nigerian women's healthcare. The precision of robotic instruments allows surgeons to remove only diseased tissue while preserving fertility and surrounding organs, with minimal blood loss and faster healing.

Prof. Yusuf Oshodi, a gynecologist from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital who joined the surgical team, explained that conditions like fibroids affect up to 70 percent of women in some Nigerian communities. Many suffer silently or delay treatment, leading to anemia and other complications.

The patient received the procedure free of charge as part of the clinic's commitment to advancing healthcare access. Ekwueme noted that the economic cost of prolonged illness far exceeds the investment in advanced surgical care.

The Ripple Effect

This breakthrough extends beyond one successful surgery. The Prostate Clinic, which introduced West Africa's first surgical robot last year for prostate procedures, has now opened the door for treating endometriosis, fibroids, certain ectopic pregnancies, and ovarian conditions with the same advanced technology.

The clinic has partnered with Imo State Government to establish Nigeria's first robotic surgery center focused on innovation, research, and training. The goal is ambitious: transform Nigeria from a source of medical tourism into a destination for advanced care.

UK-based consultant gynecologist Olaolu Aladade, part of the surgical team, emphasized the comprehensive benefits. Patients avoid major complications, preserve reproductive health, and experience better psychological outcomes alongside faster physical recovery.

For women across West Africa who previously faced limited surgical options or expensive overseas treatment, this technology signals a new era of accessible, advanced healthcare delivered close to home.