The Integration Dignity and Economic Advancement (IDEA-Nigeria) has urged the federal government to resolve delays in the supply of Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) for over 3,000 leprosy patients, including 800 children.
Peter Iorkighir Terver, the organization’s president, highlighted a 10-month holdup caused by bureaucratic bottlenecks, including additional requirements from NAFDAC, such as a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) for Rifampicin, despite its global acceptance.
With key permits set to expire soon, Terver warned that further delays could stretch into late 2025, leaving patients untreated and at risk of disabilities. He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently, stressing that leprosy patients face medical and social challenges, and untreated cases heighten public health risks.
Terver urged NAFDAC to waive unnecessary requirements to ensure timely drug delivery, emphasizing the need for swift action to uphold Nigeria’s commitment to leprosy elimination.
