The President of Kelina Hospital, Dr Celsus Undie, says the facility performed 212 prostate surgeries in 2025, a feat he said has helped save lives and reduce medical tourism.
Undie, a consultant urological surgeon, disclosed this on Saturday during a news conference in Lagos while highlighting the hospital’s contributions to strengthening local healthcare delivery.
He said the surgeries addressed both prostate cancer and benign prostatic enlargement, describing the figure as the highest annual prostate surgery volume recorded by any hospital in Nigeria.
“By January 2026, Kelina Hospital had completed 101 prostate cancer surgeries in exactly two years.
“Completing 100 prostate cancer surgeries within two years without a single mortality is an achievement worth celebrating,” he said.
Undie noted that the milestone demonstrated the untapped potential of Nigeria’s healthcare system despite prevailing challenges.
He said the hospital remained committed to providing effective treatment for surgical diseases, with particular emphasis on advanced urological care.
Benign prostatic enlargement, he explained, is a non-cancerous condition common among ageing men and often results in urinary difficulties and other serious complications if untreated.
According to him, prolonged catheter use in untreated cases can threaten kidney function, increase infection risks and compromise overall wellbeing.
Undie said Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) remained the most effective surgical option for the condition, with fewer complications.
“HoLEP results in less bleeding, shorter catheter time, reduced hospital stay and fewer blood transfusions.
“At the end of 2018, Kelina Hospital became the first hospital in Nigeria to commence HoLEP surgery.
“We have performed over 600 HoLEP procedures since 2019, with a mortality rate below 0.2 per cent,” he said.
He cited data from the National Institutes of Health indicating that surgical mortality rates range between 3.2 and 6 per cent across hospital categories.
“Our mortality rate, which is under one per cent, is something we are extremely proud of, given our limitations,” Undie added.
The urologist emphasized the importance of regular screening for early detection of prostate cancer, noting that early diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes.
On treatment options, he listed radical prostatectomy procedures, including open, laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries.
He said robotic radical prostatectomy was the most advanced and precise approach, adding that all three options were available at Kelina Hospital.
“At present, open radical prostatectomy is performed only for kidney transplant patients.
“For all other cases, we exclusively carry out robotic radical prostatectomy,” he said.
Undie attributed the hospital’s achievements to teamwork, structured processes and strict adherence to safety protocols.
He called for stronger government support as the hospital continues to expand its services to further reverse medical tourism.
He also urged authorities to exempt the health sector from taxation, describing healthcare as a humanitarian service critical to national development.
