Dermatologists under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists (NAD) have warned of a critical shortage of multidrug therapy (MDT) for leprosy, as Nigeria marks World Leprosy Day 2026.
The NAD President, Prof. Dasetima Altraide, raised the alarm in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the shortage has persisted for more than two years, leaving patients in several states without access to life-saving medicines.
“Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is fully curable with the WHO-recommended multidrug therapy, but regulatory and administrative delays have stalled the clearance and distribution of donated drugs,” he said.
Altraide explained that the required Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis certificates were not provided, preventing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from conducting quality checks and releasing the medicines to patients.
“Where treatment is unavailable, cure is impossible,” he said.
He warned that untreated leprosy could lead to nerve damage, permanent deformities and continued transmission within affected communities.
The 2026 theme, ‘Leprosy is curable, but the real challenge is stigma’, he said, underscores the link between treatment access and the reduction of discrimination against patients.
Altraide urged urgent government intervention and stronger inter-agency collaboration to release the MDT supplies and restore nationwide access, warning that further disruptions could undermine Nigeria’s leprosy control efforts.
Citing findings from a 17-year Lagos study, he said access to essential medicines was not only a public health duty but also a human rights issue and a national responsibility.
