LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- In commemoration of the 2026 World Lupus Day in Abuja, health advocates have called to the Nigerian government, health institutions and insurance providers to improve care and provide affordable treatment for people living with lupus.
Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs, causing inflammation in joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs
The World Lupus Day is observed every May 10 to raise global awareness about the disease and the physical, emotional and financial burden experienced by patients.
This year’s event, themed “Make Lupus Visible Together,” was organized by the Gift Lupus Foundation alongside healthcare advocates to highlight the struggles faced by lupus patients, including delayed diagnosis, costly treatment and social stigma.
Speaking during the programme, lupus patient Vivian Martins-Atojoko described the illness as painful and unpredictable.
Her symptoms started with severe body pain, swollen joints and sensitivity to cold before doctors finally confirmed she had lupus after years of incorrect treatment.
“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,” Martins-Atojoko said.
She revealed that she was misdiagnosed initially, but after repeated hospital visits and worsening health challenges, her condition was finally diagnosed.
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Martins-Atojoko also recounted suffering miscarriages and stillbirths linked to complications from the disease.
Furthermore, she identified the high cost of drugs, laboratory tests and specialist consultations as major problems forcing many patients to skip treatment because of financial hardship.
On behalf of all lupus patients in the country Martins-Atojoko called on the government and health insurance providers to establish dedicated lupus clinics and include lupus treatment in health insurance coverage across public hospitals.
Another patient, Nanna Gambo-Yilme, said her health problems began shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown with breathing difficulties and weakness affecting one side of her body.
She was also misdiagnosed and used her story to encouraged lupus patients to remain hopeful despite the pain, stigma and emotional stress associated with the illnesses.
During a speech at the event, the National President of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Dr Terfa Kene, explained that lupus occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy organs and tissues.
“The immune system that is supposed to fight infections now attacks the individual’s own cells. That is the simplest explanation of lupus,” Kene said.
He noted that its attack on skin, joints, and major organs made diagnosis difficult because symptoms often resemble other illnesses.
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Kene also warned that treatment usually involves suppressing the immune system, which may expose patients to infections and other health complications requiring close medical monitoring.
“It is reported that about 58 percent of people have little or no information about lupus, and many Nigerians still do not understand what the disease is,” Kene said.
Speaking on vision, the Founder of the Gift Lupus Foundation, Mrs Lovette Ononuga, said she created the organization in 2019 after losing her sister to lupus complications caused by years of delayed diagnosis.
According to Ononuga, her sister lived with lupus for 18 years but remained undiagnosed for 15 years despite persistent symptoms and severe pain.
“One day she would present with heart problems, another day with lesions or swollen joints, but she was always in pain and constantly fatigued,” Ononuga said.
She explained that her sister was eventually diagnosed at a lupus clinic in London, but the disease had already damaged her kidneys beyond recovery.
“The disease is incurable, but if detected early, it can be managed and patients can live normal lives,” Ononuga said.
At the end, participants stressed the need for stronger public education, improved medical research, affordable healthcare services and early diagnosis to help lupus patients live healthier lives across Nigeria.
(NAN)
