Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary for health and environment and Dr Abubakar Kana, permanent secretary at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development have lauded Dr Helen Mbakwe, a US-trained physician, for returning to Nigeria to pioneer the country’s first outpatient infusion and arthritis management centre.
The new facility, located in Abuja, is seen as a major step forward in the treatment of chronic pain and autoimmune disorders, particularly rheumatoid arthritis.
Dr Adedolapo Fasawe commended Dr Mbakwe’s commitment to reshaping healthcare innovation in the capital.
“There is no documented review on the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in Abuja or northern Nigeria,” she said.
Dr Helen’s initiative not only sets up a centre but also begins the critical research we’ve been lacking, especially for conditions often misdiagnosed in women.”
The centre, named Frontline Infusion and Arthritis Outpatient Medical Facility, was unveiled in a ceremony attended by key health stakeholders and public officials.
Dr Mbakwe explained that the facility will offer advanced infusion therapies, non-surgical treatments, and personalised care plans for patients with arthritis and other chronic autoimmune conditions.
“Infusion therapy, particularly biologics, offers targeted relief that slows disease progression and restores quality of life,” she said. “For many, it’s not just a treatment, it’s a lifeline.”
In addition to arthritis care, the facility has launched Nigeria’s first outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service to address antibiotic-resistant infections.
This new service uses precision multi-dosing technology, allowing patients to receive intravenous antibiotics outside hospital walls. Experts say this move could ease hospital congestion and improve infection control.
“This is not just innovation—it’s a necessity,” Dr Mbakwe added.
“By decentralising antibiotic therapy, we return dignity and convenience to patients, while reducing pressure on our overstretched health system.”
Dr Abubakar Kana, permanent secretary at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, hailed the centre as a beacon of hope amid Nigeria’s growing medical brain drain.
“In an era of ‘Japa’ stories, Helen gives us an ‘anti-Japa’ narrative,” Kana said.
“She’s come home to invest in a system many are fleeing. This is a call to action for our medical diaspora.”
He further noted the project supports national efforts to reduce medical tourism by ensuring world-class care is available within Nigeria.
Dr Mbakwe dedicated the centre to God, her family, and the patients who have motivated her journey.
“This is what happens when compassion meets innovation,” she said. “We are building a future where pain no longer defines people’s lives.”
The facility also offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, viscosupplementation, nutritional counselling, and physiotherapy, positioning it as a regional leader in arthritis and infusion therapy across West Africa.
