Pastor Alexander Idachama has become the first patient to undergo robotic-assisted surgery at Redeemer's Health Village Hospital in Redemption City, Ogun State. The procedure, a radical prostatectomy, was performed by a team led by Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, co-founder of US-based RoboMed Global Inc., alongside Nigerian doctors including Dr Ifeanyi. According to a testimony published by Church Times, Idachama said the surgery saved him the cost of travelling abroad for treatment and that he was discharged in less than 24 hours.
How the Surgery Unfolded
Idachama arrived at the hospital in the last week of August and was taken through orientation sessions to acquaint him with the surgical process. He later met Dr Ifeanyi and other members of the medical team, who walked him through everything that would happen before, during and after the surgery. The operation used world-class robotic equipment, which Idachama said provided greater precision, caused much less pain, and made recovery easier.
"The pain subsided quickly," Idachama said, describing his recovery. He added that he was discharged less than 24 hours after the surgery, a stark contrast to traditional open surgery which often requires longer hospital stays.
Hospital's Recent Telerobotic Milestone
The successful robotic-assisted surgery follows the hospital's recent announcement of what it described as West Africa's first 500-kilometre telerobotic surgery. During that operation, surgeons in Ogun remotely performed surgery on a patient with a kidney tumour in Abuja using robotic technology. This earlier milestone demonstrated the hospital's capacity for remote surgical procedures, and the latest surgery further cements its position in advanced medical care.
About the Patient and Procedure
Pastor Idachama is not only a clergy member but also an academic. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and specialises in electronics, electrical communication and smart grid research. He serves as a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the church that owns Redeemer's Health Village Hospital.
The procedure he underwent, a radical prostatectomy, is used mainly to treat localised prostate cancer by removing the entire prostate gland, surrounding tissues, the seminal vesicles and, when necessary, nearby pelvic lymph nodes. Robotic-assisted surgery is becoming more common globally because it allows surgeons to operate through smaller incisions, which often means less pain, reduced blood loss, lower risk of complications and shorter hospital stays compared to traditional open surgery.
Impact on Medical Tourism and Future Outlook
Idachama said he would confidently recommend Redeemer's Health Village Hospital to family and friends, adding that its facilities can compete with some of the best hospitals anywhere in the world. His experience highlights a potential shift in Nigeria's medical landscape, where patients often travel abroad for specialised treatment. The successful surgery adds another milestone to Nigeria's growing adoption of advanced medical technology and could encourage more patients to consider receiving specialised treatment within the country instead of looking overseas.
