People affected by leprosy in Nigeria will soon be able to access essential medications for the first time in over a year, with the World Health Organization (WHO) announcing that the drugs should arrive this weekend.

Nigeria, which reports more than 2,000 new cases of leprosy each year, has faced a severe shortage of these medications due to delays in supply shipments. The disruption was primarily caused by new regulations introduced to combat counterfeit and substandard drugs. As a result, vital drugs for treating leprosy were held up at the border.

The WHO has urged Nigeria to temporarily suspend its new testing policies in order to expedite the arrival of the drugs, which are expected to be delivered from India by Sunday.

Leprosy is a treatable disease, typically managed with a combination of antibiotics over a treatment period that can last from six to twelve months. However, when left untreated, leprosy can cause debilitating health issues, including nerve damage, open sores, and deformities. The lack of available drugs in Nigeria has left many patients without proper treatment, forcing some to return home from hospitals, and increasing the risk of the disease spreading as untreated individuals remain contagious.

Dr. Samimu Msheliza, a public health expert and medical advisor at the Nigerian branch of the Leprosy Mission, stressed the urgent need for the medication. He explained, “We have thousands of newly diagnosed leprosy patients in various cities who are waiting for this medication. The quicker we get the drugs, the better, because right now these people are suffering, and the transmission continues because they are not being treated.”

One patient, Awwal Musa, shared her experience with worsening symptoms due to the lack of treatment. “Before last year, my wounds were healing, but now they are getting worse. The pain is unbearable,” she said, explaining that her condition had deteriorated since she was unable to receive the necessary medication.

The situation has been further complicated by Nigeria’s new drug regulations, which aim to tackle counterfeit medicines but have also delayed the importation of essential drugs. While the efforts to improve drug safety are important, they have unintentionally impacted the availability of critical treatments, including those needed for leprosy.

The arrival of the new medication is a significant step forward in addressing the leprosy crisis in Nigeria, and it is hoped that it will prevent further complications and improve the health of those affected.

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