The first-ever robotic surgery patient at Redeemer’s Health Village in Nigeria, Pastor Alexander Idachama, has shared his experience undergoing a radical prostatectomy with the assistance of surgical robotics.
The procedure, carried out recently at the Redeemer’s Health Village Hospital located in Redemption City, Ogun State, has since attracted national and global attention.
Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis (co-founder of RoboMed Global), alongside local physicians like Dr. Ifeanyi led the team that carried out the robot assisted procedure which was done in partnership with the US-based RoboMed Global Inc.
In the course of the landmark surgery for Pastor Idachama, RHV and RoboMed Global performed West Africa’s first 500km telerobotic (remote) surgery, where surgeons at RHV in Ogun State operated remotely on a kidney tumor patient in Abuja.
Speaking on his experiences in a social media post monitored by Church Times after his operation, Pastor Idachama explained that he learned about the hospital through its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adedamola Dada. Without hesitation, he decided to undergo treatment at the facility for his condition.
What is radical prostatectomy?
A radical prostatectomy is a major surgical procedure performed to remove the entire prostate gland, along with surrounding tissue such as the seminal vesicles and local pelvic lymph nodes. It is primarily used as a curative treatment for localized prostate cancer to eliminate the disease before it spreads to other parts of the body.
Idachama’s experience
Pastor Idachama noted that choosing Redeemer’s Health Village Hospital was the best option available to him, saving him the cost of travelling abroad for medical care.
Describing his experience in glowing terms, he said, “I arrived at the hospital in the last week of August and was taken through a series of orientation sessions to acquaint me with the surgical process.”
He explained that he met with Dr. Ifeanyi and other members of the surgical team, who thoroughly detailed what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. He praised the robotic system used during the operation as world-class.
The surgery was a complete success, allowing for his discharge less than 24 hours after the procedure. Although he noted feeling mild pain after the operation, he said ‘the pain subsided quickly.”
Reflecting on his recovery, Pastor Idachama emphasized that robotic-assisted surgery provides higher surgical precision, significantly less pain, and a gentler impact on the patient. He expressed his commitment to recommending Redeemer’s Health Village to friends and family, describing its facilities as comparable to the best in the world.