The Gift Lupus Foundation (GLF), on Saturday, called on Nigerians to raise awareness and take decisive action in support of people living with Lupus across the country.

Lupus, formally known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs. The disease can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain, leading to serious, often life-threatening complications.

The founder of the Gift Lupus Foundation (GLF), Dr. Nguumbur Lovette Ikongo, disclosed this in Abuja while visiting a critically ill Lupus patient at Sahad Hospital as part of activities marking World Lupus Day 2025.

Recounting her personal journey, Ikongo said: “My concern and passion for patients living with Lupus started several years ago when I lost a sister to the condition.”

She called on the federal and sub-national governments to expand support for Lupus patients, many of whom suffer in silence due to misdiagnosis, limited access to care, and the high cost of treatment.

Ikongo said: “In Nigeria, many patients suffer in silence due to misdiagnosis, inadequate access to care, and the high cost of treatment. For too long, Lupus has remained hidden in the shadows, misunderstood and overlooked.

“But behind every diagnosis is a story of strength, survival, and resilience. At GLF, we stand with these warriors not as victims, but as courageous survivors who deserve to live with dignity and hope.

“Since its founding in 2020, Gift Lupus Foundation has worked to build a national register of Lupus warriors, support patients morally and financially, and amplify awareness through community education and media campaigns.

“The Foundation has also begun work toward conducting a national baseline survey to gather data crucial to understanding the true scope of the disease in Nigeria.”

She noted that since its establishment in 2020, the Gift Lupus Foundation has led efforts to build a national register of Lupus patients, offer financial and emotional support, and drive education and awareness through grassroots campaigns and media advocacy.

The Foundation is also working toward a national baseline survey to better understand the prevalence and impact of the disease in Nigeria.

Ikongo added, “Many warriors cannot afford the medications that keep them alive. Others are misdiagnosed or go untreated due to gaps in the healthcare system.

“In 2024, the Mandate Secretary of FCT Health Services partnered with the Foundation to celebrate World Lupus Day on 10th May 2024 in Abuja. The event brought together renowned health professionals who provided a one-day training for healthcare workers on the disease.

“GLF also launched the first-ever magazine on Lupus in Nigeria, which was disseminated freely to all primary healthcare institutions across the 774 local government areas in the country. The magazine, themed Make Lupus Visible, serves as a valuable resource.

“This year, GLF is calling on the Nigerian Government to accelerate action on Lupus as a gender-based health issue, as it primarily affects women between the ages of 18 and 45. Addressing this reality is essential to promoting inclusive, equitable healthcare for all.

“We must also intensify conversations about women’s health, particularly in host communities of extractive industries, where those living with Lupus are even more vulnerable and often left without the support or care they need.”