Stakeholders Seek Increased Awareness, Support For People Living With Lupus

Health experts have called for increased awareness and better support system for people living with lupus as part of activities marking the 2026 World Lupus Day.

The National President of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Dr. Terfa Kene, who described lupus as an auto-immune disease that mainly affects women said the annual observance on May 10 was aimed at increasing awareness and visibility for the condition.

Speaking during the event, Dr. Kene highlighted the importance of Vitamin D in lupus management, explaining that the vitamin helps regulate immune response in patients living with the disease.

According to him, many lupus patients suffer from Vitamin D deficiency because they are often unable to stay long in the sun due to photosensitivity.

He explained that limited exposure to sunlight further complicates their health challenges, making proper medical management and nutrition important in controlling the disease.

He added that many patients must carefully manage their lifestyle and environment to avoid triggers that could worsen their condition.

Dr. Kene also stressed the role of nutrition in lupus management, advising patients to avoid foods that may trigger reactions, including gluten-containing foods. He encouraged diets rich in green vegetables and essential nutrients to improve the overall health and wellbeing of patients.

According to him, while people generally eat different kinds of foods, lupus patients require specific dietary guidance because of their medical condition. He noted that balanced nutrition and proper care remain critical in helping patients manage the disease effectively.

The founder of the GIFT Lupus Foundation, Loveth Onanuga, advocated for increased awareness, early diagnosis, and stronger support systems for people living with lupus in Nigeria.

Onanuga recounted how her late sister battled the disease for years before it was properly diagnosed.

According to her, the lack of awareness about lupus among both the public and healthcare professionals delayed treatment and placed enormous emotional, physical, and financial strain on the family.

She explained that although her sister eventually received treatment and improved, years of undetected illness had already caused severe damage to her organs, leading to kidney failure and her death in 2018.

Onanuga who said the experience exposed critical gaps in lupus care in Nigeria, especially poor awareness and late diagnosis noted that many doctors and nurses still have limited knowledge of the disease, making education and awareness a major priority.

According to her, the GIFT Lupus Foundation is working towards establishing a specialised lupus clinic in Nigeria to provide treatment, counselling, and support services for people living with the condition.

Also, a Lupus advocate and cancer survivor, Dorothy Achumba, encouraged people living with lupus to remain hopeful and emotionally resilient while undergoing treatment.

She stressed the importance of emotional strength and faith in coping with the disease.

Achumba, who shared her experience as a cancer survivor, urged patients to maintain a positive outlook alongside medical treatment and support systems.

She also encouraged those living with the disease not to give up hope while continuing their treatment and care.

A lupus patient and advocate, Sharon Enneoreva called for increased awareness and funding to support people living with the disease in Nigeria.

Enneoreva said she began experiencing the symptoms in 2009 but was not properly diagnosed until 2016 after several hospital visits and repeated health complications.

She explained that it was only after meeting a doctor who referred her to a rheumatologist that she finally received a confirmed diagnosis.

According to her, greater visibility and awareness would encourage early diagnosis and attract funding for treatment, research, and patient support.

Florence Adewale, Edited By Grace Namiji