In 2023, 69.8 million people were living in poverty in Nigeria. That’s more than the total population of the UK. The country is set to become the world’s third most populous by 2050. But it is also becoming more unequal. Finding better livelihood opportunites is hard, particularly in northern regions affected by conflict.

Many people across Nigeria don’t have access to healthcare. In 2022, 2,393 people were diagnosed with leprosy, including 155 children. 100 million Nigerians are at risk of neglected tropical diseases, including leprosy.

We work closely with The Leprosy Mission Nigeria. Your support funds projects to find and cure people with leprosy, provide vital healthcare, and tackle stigma.

Healthcare

We support Chanchaga Orthopaedic Centre in Minna, north Nigeria. Here, people affected by leprosy can get mobility aids and assistive devices, from prosthetics to wheelchairs and protective footwear.

Leprosy isn’t just a physical disease. The stigma, discrimination and isolation people affected face has emotional impacts too. We are working with The Leprosy Mission Nigeria to provide vital mental health services.

Nigeria has just one doctor for every 2,500 people, so we are training community members to spot the signs of mental health conditions, support people, and refer people for further care. We partner with clinical psychologists who can offer specialist services to those most in need.

Finding and treating new cases

Left untreated, leprosy can cause permanent disability. But many people delay seeking treatment, not understanding their symptoms or fearing the stigma that comes with a diagnosis. We are increasing awareness of leprosy. And we are breaking down stigma in schools, through community discussions, and on radio programmes.

The Leprosy Mission Nigeria trains community volunteers to spot the signs of leprosy, and refer people to treatment. As part of a new project, we will also run pop-up clinics to find and cure people.

Empowering people

Through your support, the team in Nigeria is providing human rights and advocacy training to leprosy people’s organisations. Through these groups people affected by the disease come together to share their challenges and find solutions. Members are also engaging with government agencies to influence policies that affect their lives.