Nigeria has continued to record over 1,000 new cases yearly in spite of a general decline in leprosy cases over the years.
This report was revealed by Munirah Abdulahi, the Focal Person for the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, to Nigeria Panorama on Monday, during a town hall meeting in Abuja to commemorate the 2025 World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day.
According to Abdulahi: “Data from 2011 to 2023 reveals fluctuating trends in leprosy detections. While 3,623 new cases were recorded in 2011, the figure peaked at 3,805 in 2012 before gradually declining to 1,541 in 2020. However, a resurgence was noted, with 2,425 new cases detected in 2023.”
These statistics, she said, underscore the persistent challenge of eradicating leprosy despite national and global efforts. She said that experts have highlighted that the disease remains a significant public health concern, particularly in underserved communities with limited access to healthcare, early detection, and awareness campaigns.
Abdulahi identified several obstacles hindering progress to include: the persistent stock-outs of Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) drugs essential for leprosy treatment, frequent shortages, which discourage field officers, adversely affecting programme performance and complicating disease control efforts.
She also listed waning interest among programme officers in leprosy and Buruli ulcer interventions due to operational and funding challenges, as part of the constraints
This lack of motivation, Abdullahi stressed, raises concerns about the sustainability of ongoing campaigns.
However, she said that the absence of a dedicated World Health Organization (WHO) National Programme Officer for NTDs, including leprosy and Buruli ulcer, has negatively impacted programme coordination.
Abdulahi stressed that appointing a dedicated officer could significantly enhance strategic planning and execution.
According to her, “Another critical impediment is inadequate funding. Limited budget allocations have hindered essential activities, leaving affected communities without the necessary support to combat these diseases.”
The National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme has developed a comprehensive roadmap to address the issue.
The plan focuses on the following key areas: Programme implementation, expanding active case-finding efforts through community-based interventions and enhancing awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and improve case detection.
Advocacy and engagement involves
organizing a national leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Partners Engagement Meeting to foster stakeholder alignment and boost resource mobilization.
Resource Mobilization, Abdullahi noted, means prioritizing strategies for sustainable funding to ensure long-term programme success.
MDT and Logistics Management, she said, involves strengthening the supply chain to ensure the continuous availability of MDT drugs.
According to her, capacity strengthening will involve building the technical expertise of healthcare workers and relevant stakeholders.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
Implementing robust frameworks to track progress and make data-driven adjustments.
This initiative aligns with global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases and reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to eliminating leprosy and Buruli ulcer as public health threats. Stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners, were commended for their contributions to this cause.
She concluded with a call for strengthened partnerships, enhanced funding, and intensified interventions to prevent new infections and support affected individuals.
By addressing these challenges, Nigeria can make significant strides toward achieving its leprosy and NTD control goals
