Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Folakemi Cole-Adeife, has advocated for the integration of skin health into primary healthcare to increase access and reduce the burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria.
Cole-Adeife, who works at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, made the call on Thursday during the 19th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists (NAD).
The three-day conference had the theme: “Dermatology and Global Health: Bridging the Gap.”
She noted that Nigeria accounted for more than 25 per cent of all NTD cases in Africa, making it the country with the highest NTD burden on the continent.
Cole-Adeife identified acne, impetigo, tinea, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and skin cancers as eight of the ten skin-related NTDs recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), all of which were endemic in Nigeria.
“Skin NTDs are a subset of NTDs that primarily present with cutaneous manifestations and make up half of all NTDs.
“They are common in rural areas, receive little attention in terms of funding and research, and are often associated with stigmatisation, discrimination, and socioeconomic challenges,” she said.
She stressed that most primary healthcare workers had very limited knowledge of skin NTDs, underscoring the need to integrate skin health into primary healthcare.
“Many NTDs manifest with skin signs and symptoms. Early recognition and management at the primary healthcare level can prevent complications, reduce transmission, and improve health outcomes in the country,” she added.
Cole-Adeife also lamented the acute shortage of dermatologists in Nigeria, revealing that the country currently had only one qualified dermatologist per million people, most of whom were concentrated in urban areas.
She emphasised the importance of training primary healthcare workers to screen, recognise, and manage common and serious skin conditions as a key strategy in addressing the burden of NTDs.
“Such efforts will close the gap in access to skin healthcare for underserved communities, ultimately leading to better health outcomes,” she said.
“As dermatologists, it is important that we collaborate with key stakeholders to promote skin health through prevention, education, early detection, and early treatment,” she added.