The World Health Organization (WHO) will send leprosy drugs to Nigeria this weekend after prolonged testing delays left thousands of patients, including children, without treatment for a year, the agency confirmed Friday.
Nigeria, which reports over 1,000 leprosy cases annually, ran out of multi-drug therapy (MDT) in early 2024 due to supply chain bottlenecks and new domestic testing requirements for imported medicines. The delays left patients at risk of irreversible disabilities, including blindness and paralysis.
The WHO, which oversees shipments of the free Novartis-made medication, said it sought and secured a waiver in January to bypass Nigeria’s new testing rules.
“A dispatch of leprosy drugs from India has been confirmed for March 8, with arrival in Nigeria on March 9,” a WHO spokesperson told Reuters.
Patients Left Suffering
At ERCC Hospital in Nasarawa, west of Abuja, only two leprosy patients remained in February, while 26 others were sent home due to the drug shortage, heightening the risk of transmission.
“Before last year, my wounds were healing, but now they are getting worse. The pain is worse,” said Awwal Musa, a patient whose condition deteriorated after her treatment stopped.
Health workers warned of permanent disabilities among untreated patients. “If they lose their fingers, who will give them back? If they go blind, who will restore their sight?” asked Kuzeh Thomas, a hospital director.
Global Supply Chain Weaknesses
Nigeria is one of 12 countries reporting between 1,000 and 10,000 leprosy cases annually, trailing only Brazil, India, and Indonesia. The delay in securing the WHO-supplied MDT highlights broader vulnerabilities in global health systems, said Beatriz Miranda-Galarza, the UN Special Rapporteur on leprosy.
Sandoz, a spin-off of Novartis that produces part of the drug in India, said it could not disclose supply details due to contractual reasons. Novartis reaffirmed its commitment to leprosy eradication but provided no further details.
Quontrol, an Indian lab that tested the medication, did not release its findings. Nigeria’s drug regulator approved the batch in December 2024 after months of delays.
“This is the first time we’ve seen such a painful situation where leprosy patients—who are among the poorest—are denied life-saving medication,” said Sunday Udoh, head of Leprosy Mission Nigeria.