FG launches number one non-surgical spinal decompression center in Nigeria
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate.
FG launches first non-surgical spinal decompression center in Nigeria.
The Federal Government has unveiled Nigeria’s first non-surgical spinal decompression centre in Abuja, designed to enhance access to advanced healthcare services nationwide.
The unveiling took place on Saturday in Abuja by the Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate, represented by the Director of Hospital Services at the ministry, Salaudeen Jimoh.
In his remarks, Jimoh said, “We are here to represent the entire family of the Federal Ministry of Health. We are all interested in what is going on here as soon as we can commence operations. I also want to thank the entire management that is here.
“All the sectors of Nigeria that are here standing to represent this country are here just because they are all interested in seeing the kind of services that are coming out from here. So we thank the management, especially Slapinski, for considering Nigeria as a country that will do this kind of project.”
Jimoh emphasised that the opening of the centre aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Health, which prioritises improved healthcare access for Nigerians.
“Fortunately, it comes at the right time. Certainly, because our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Health—this is one of the cardinal points. So it comes here at the right time when Nigeria will be able to appreciate and enjoy the services of this centre. So we thank the management. Together we will work as a team,” he said.
The Clinical Director and co-founder of the Spine and Nerve Centre, Doctor Craig Slapinski, acknowledged the high demand for the centre’s services and the need for expansion.
“Well, the main problem that I see happening is the volume of people that we’re having coming in. There’s a lot of people that are looking at the treatment,” he said. “It’s our expansion in getting enough staff and equipment and hiring another doctor to come to Abuja.”
Slapinski noted that the government has been supportive, particularly in terms of licensing and regulatory approvals.
“We’re working closely with various ministers. The Minister of Health and the Minister of Petroleum have all been really instrumental in helping us—getting all of our licenses, getting everything approved for what we’re doing. So that’s been what we’re working on,” he explained.
The centre provides non-surgical alternatives for patients suffering from chronic pain, offering an option beyond surgery and long-term medication use.
“We are just letting people know that there is an alternative to surgery, to chronic pain medication. And letting them know that there is hope elsewhere,” Slapinski added.
He also disclosed that prior to opening the Abuja centre, many Nigerians had been travelling to Ghana for treatment.
“I have an office in Accra. And so I was getting lots and lots of Nigerians that were travelling to Accra for the treatment. And so we looked at Abuja as the next logical place to open up another location. In the next two years, we are opening up more locations.”
Slapinski commended the Nigerian government for making the licensing and registration process smooth, allowing the centre to commence operations without unnecessary delays.
“The help from the government has really been from licensing, registration. They have really been able to streamline that. And they have been very, very encouraging in the opening of this facility,” he concluded.
