Stakeholders and lupus patients called for improved healthcare access and financial support for Nigerians living with the autoimmune disease during World Lupus Day events in Abuja on May 10, 2026. The event, themed "Make Lupus Visible Together," was organised by the Gift Lupus Foundation with health advocates. Lupus, observed globally on May 10, aims to spotlight challenges including delayed diagnosis, high treatment costs and social stigma.
Vivian Martins-Atojoko, a lupus patient, described the disease as unpredictable and painful, recounting years of misdiagnosis and treatment for rheumatoid arthritis before receiving a correct lupus diagnosis. She suffered miscarriages and stillbirths, with doctors warning that pregnancy could worsen her condition due to necessary medications. "Life with lupus is unpredictable. One minute I am okay and smiling, the next minute I may start feeling very sick with inflammation, kidney problems or severe pain," she said.
Martins-Atojoko cited the high cost of medications, lab tests and specialist visits as major barriers, forcing many patients to skip treatment. She urged the government and health insurers to establish dedicated lupus clinics and include full care coverage in public health insurance. Nanna Gambo-Yilme said her symptoms began after the COVID-19 lockdown, including breathing issues and one-sided body weakness. She was advised to seek treatment abroad due to limited local expertise but could not afford it. "They said autoimmune diseases were not common in Nigeria. I had to learn to survive it myself and tell myself that I would outlive it," Gambo-Yilme said.
Dr Terfa Kene, National President of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, explained lupus as a condition where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, affecting organs like the kidneys, heart and skin. He noted diagnosis is difficult due to symptoms mimicking other diseases. Treatment often requires immune-suppressing drugs, which can lead to infections and vitamin D deficiency. Ononuga shared that her sister lived with undiagnosed lupus for 15 of 18 years, with recurring heart issues, lesions and joint pain. She was finally diagnosed at a clinic in London, but severe kidney damage had already occurred, leading to her death. "The disease is incurable, but if detected early, it can be managed and patients can live normal lives," Ononuga said.
Vivian Martins-Atojoko waited years for a correct lupus diagnosis while being treated for a different condition, exposing gaps in Nigeria's disease recognition system. Nanna Gambo-Yilme was told to seek care abroad but could not afford it, leaving her to manage a complex illness without specialist support. Ononuga's sister died from complications after 15 years of misdiagnosis, despite visible and recurring symptoms. If basic detection fails for those who can access hospitals, thousands with limited healthcare access may never get diagnosed at all.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
