The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has officially opened a new, advanced dermatology centre, marking a significant milestone in the fight against skin diseases in Nigeria and the wider West African region.
A Response to a Growing Health Burden
The facility, situated at the LUTH annex in Yaba, was commissioned recently to tackle the critical gaps in dermatology infrastructure, specialist training, and patient care. Skin conditions rank among the top ten causes of illness globally, according to the World Health Organisation, yet their impact in Nigeria is often underestimated and poorly documented.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, described the centre as a major advancement for a medical specialty that has suffered from neglect despite the high prevalence of skin disorders. The guest speaker, Prof. Adebola Ogunbiyi, a consultant dermatologist from the University of Ibadan, emphasised that the burden of skin diseases is grossly underrated.
"Skin diseases can be very stigmatising. Some people dress to hide their condition, not because of what they want to wear. Others avoid social interactions entirely," Ogunbiyi stated. She highlighted that these conditions severely affect quality of life, mental well-being, and productivity, noting that most skin diseases are treatable or manageable with proper dermatological care.
Comprehensive Services and Modern Facilities
The new three-storey centre, fully funded by the Federal Government under its Renewed Hope Agenda, is designed to be a hub for excellence. Prof. Adeyemo outlined that it will provide comprehensive services including advanced diagnostics like patch testing and immunofluorescence studies. Treatment options will range from phototherapy and cryotherapy to surgical procedures and plasmapheresis for autoimmune disorders.
The centre will also offer aesthetic services such as laser treatments and chemical peels. To extend its reach, tele-dermatology services will be deployed to serve underserved communities. The facility is equipped with solar-powered inverters to ensure an uninterrupted power supply and a conducive working environment, a move Adeyemo said is crucial to reversing the brain drain in the medical sector.
Focus on Research, Training, and Sustainability
A key pillar of the centre's mission is to prioritise research on skin conditions prevalent among Africans, including studies on skin of colour, tropical dermatology, and the evaluation of indigenous therapies. Genomics and artificial intelligence applications in dermatology will also be explored.
Prof. Ogunbiyi stressed the need for reliable surveillance data to guide health policy and expressed hope that the centre would help expand residency training to alleviate the severe shortage of dermatologists and related specialists in Nigeria. She called for collaborations with other medical fields, public health units, ICT departments, and agencies like NAFDAC.
For sustainability, she advocated for diversified funding through services, grants, and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. Crucially, she urged the government to include dermatology services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make care accessible and affordable, reducing the current out-of-pocket burden on patients.
The vision for the centre began under the former CMD, Prof. Chris Bode, and took about 18 months to complete. Commissioning the centre, Prof. Yetunde Mercy Olumide, an 83-year-old pioneering dermatologist, hailed it as a "centre of excellence" that will transform patient outcomes and training. She reflected on practising in far poorer conditions decades ago, expressing gratitude for witnessing this development.
With Nigerian hospitals noting a shift from infectious skin diseases to non-communicable conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancers, the emotional and financial toll on patients and families is significant. The new LUTH dermatology centre stands as a beacon of renewed hope, aiming to bring skin health to the forefront of Nigeria's public health agenda.
