Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has unveiled the state’s investment in robotic surgery and oncology services, saying the initiative is designed to bring advanced specialist healthcare closer to residents and reduce medical tourism.
The governor disclosed this in a state broadcast on Thursday in Owerri while outlining his administration’s efforts to strengthen tertiary healthcare in the state.
Uzodimma said the objective was to establish a modern specialist medical institution equipped to manage complex health conditions locally, thereby reducing the financial, travel and emotional burden associated with seeking treatment outside the state or country.
According to him, the robotic surgical system has arrived, while the theatre and other supporting equipment have been installed and prepared for clinical operations.
“Equipment must be matched with competence. Technology must be matched with training. Infrastructure must be matched with people who know how to use it well,” the governor said.
He explained that the oncology centre and robotic surgery unit would strengthen cancer diagnosis, treatment and post-operative care within the same specialist environment.
Uzodimma also listed other facilities at the hospital complex, including accident and emergency services, intensive care units, neonatal intensive care, dedicated theatres, medical oxygen infrastructure, diagnostic facilities, maternity services, paediatrics, physiotherapy, mental health services and specialist wards.
The governor said the facility would also be equipped with MRI, CT scan, PET scan, mammography and X-ray services, as well as interventional radiology suites.
To improve access to the services, Uzodimma said the state government had integrated complex tertiary treatments into its health insurance scheme, stressing that advanced healthcare must remain accessible to ordinary residents.
He further disclosed that the centre’s first robotic procedure would be performed on Friday by Dr. Kingsley Ekwueme, a United Kingdom-based consultant robotic and laparoscopic surgeon.
The governor said the project was being developed through a public-private partnership and expressed optimism that it would position Imo as a major hub for specialist healthcare and medical innovation in West Africa.
He added that the administration’s broader objective was to build a healthcare system where diagnosis, treatment, surgery and follow-up care could increasingly be accessed within the same specialist environment.
“Our ambition is to become a state where, whenever a citizen needs quality medical attention, that citizen has confidence that good care can be found here in Imo State,” Uzodimma said.
