Federal Medical Centre Performs First Hip Replacement Surgery

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ikole-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has emerged the first public hospital in the state to perform a total hip replacement surgery.

Its medical director, Prof. Johnson Ogunlusi, told newsmen in Ikole-Ekiti, that the hospital had rapidly expanded its clinical services and specialist capacity since its establishment in mid-2024.

While noting that within its first six months of operation, FMC Ikole-Ekiti has carried out  her first total knee replacement, he said it had so far done four of such total knee replacement surgery to address severe knee pain among patients.

The MD who maintained that the health facility has since been providing improved and quality clinical services to the public said such has eliminated medical tourism and the need for many residents to travel outside Ekiti State or abroad for advanced orthopaedic procedures.

He said, “Let me start by thanking the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Governor of Ekiti State for the establishment of the Federal Medical Center in Ikole-Ekiti.

The hospital was established in mid-2024,

“Within the first six months of establishment, the hospital performed total knee replacement surgeries to relieve patients of severe knee pain. So far, we have carried out about four of such procedures. Recently, we also performed a total hip replacement, the first of its kind in our center. While these procedures are not new in Nigeria, this is the first time such surgeries have been carried out in a public hospital in Ekiti State.

“We believe it is important to let the public know that these major surgeries, which many people travel outside the state or even abroad, including to India, to undergo, can now be done at the Federal Medical Center, Ikole-Ekiti. Essentially, we are bringing advanced treatment to the doorstep of the people of Ekiti and surrounding communities.

“When the hospital was established in 2024, we had only three consultants on ground. Today, we have over 24 consultants. Out of these, 13 are full-time staff of the hospital, while others are visiting specialists. Our goal is to bring specialized expertise from across the country and beyond to FMC Ikole to provide life-changing services to our patients.’’