Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Initiative, Nigeria LTR

18/06/2026

BREAKING STIGMA THROUGH STORIES AND LIVELIHOODS: LTR NIGERIA CONVENES STAKEHOLDERS IN JOS TO ADVANCE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION FOR PERSONS AFFECTED BY LEPROSY

The Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Initiative (LTR Nigeria), with support from Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR) and Virtutis Opus Foundation, on Thursday convened stakeholders, government officials, healthcare professionals, development partners and members of the media in Jos, Plateau State, for a high-level engagement focused on promoting dignity, inclusion and economic empowerment for persons affected by leprosy.

Held at Green Valley Suites, Jos, under the theme “Empowerment of Persons Affected by Leprosy through Art and Craft in Nigeria,” the gathering served as the concluding public engagement under the Breaking Stigma Through Building Stories Project, an initiative designed to challenge misconceptions surrounding leprosy and amplify the voices, talents and aspirations of persons affected by the disease.

Representing the Executive Director of LTR Nigeria, Dr. Tahir Dahir, the Administrative Officer, Naomi Iye Idakwo, described the project as a demonstration that empowerment extends beyond medical treatment.

According to her, restoring dignity requires creating opportunities for social inclusion, economic participation and self-expression.

She noted that the project has provided beneficiaries with practical skills and platforms to showcase their creativity while helping society recognize that persons affected by leprosy are productive citizens capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.

The event was attended by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Plateau State, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, who commended LTR Nigeria and its partners for adopting an approach that combines healthcare, rehabilitation and socioeconomic empowerment.

He emphasized the need for sustainability and encouraged broader collaboration to ensure that opportunities created through the project continue beyond its current phase.

Dr. Baamlong further reiterated the commitment of government to initiatives that improve the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable populations and called for sustained efforts towards reducing stigma and promoting inclusion.

Also present was the Medical Superintendent of the Cocin Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre, Dr. Marypatience Okereafor, where the first phase of the project activities had been hosted.

She praised the initiative for creating pathways for healing, self-expression and sustainable livelihoods for persons affected by leprosy.

According to her, projects of this nature offer beneficiaries rare opportunities that should be embraced with dedication and hope, while communities must continue to provide support and encouragement.

The Plateau State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme Manager, Dr. Maxwell Jublick, alongside representatives of development partners, traditional institutions and members of the press, also participated in the event.

One of the most emotional moments of the gathering came from project beneficiary Yusuf Lisam, who expressed profound appreciation to LTR Nigeria and its partners for transforming lives through the initiative.

According to him, the project has contributed significantly to reducing stigma and rebuilding confidence among persons affected by leprosy.

He disclosed that members of the public now purchase bags, shoes and other products made by beneficiaries without discrimination, a development he described as evidence that attitudes are gradually changing.

Yusuf further noted that the use of mobile phones and videography to document and share stories of beneficiaries has become a powerful tool in challenging stigma and encouraging people to seek help when they observe signs and symptoms associated with leprosy.

“People now see that we are living dignified lives. They see that we can work, create and contribute to society. This project has changed our lives,” he said.

In recognition of exceptional commitment and outstanding participation throughout the project, LTR Nigeria presented Awards of Excellence to two beneficiaries, Yusuf Lisam and Luwisa Amos Muduutdan.

Awards of Recognition were also presented to the Project Coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Mikail, and the Medical Superintendent of Cocin Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre, Dr. Marypatience Okereafor, in appreciation of their contributions towards the successful implementation of the initiative.

Speaking on the broader significance of the project, LTR Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to building a society where no individual is defined by disease or subjected to discrimination because of their health condition.

The organization emphasized that ending stigma requires collective action, stronger partnerships and sustained investments in social and economic empowerment.

The Breaking Stigma Through Building Stories Project was implemented by LTR Nigeria with support from Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR) and Virtutis Opus Foundation.

Through storytelling, art, craft and community engagement, the project has demonstrated that dignity, opportunity and inclusion remain essential pillars in the journey towards eliminating stigma and ensuring that no one is left behind.

SALEH FAROUQ GAGARAWA
Media & Communication Officer
Jos, Plateau State – June 18, 2026

12/06/2026

At LTR Nigeria we strongly believe "Every Mother Deserves the Opportunity to Deliver HIV-Free Child."

11/06/2026

PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

Breaking Stigma Through Stories, Dignity and Inclusion

Some partnerships do more than support projects.

They create spaces where voices that have long been ignored can finally be heard.
Through the Breaking Stigma, Building Stories Project, the partnership between the Leprosy and TB Relief Initiative (LTR), NLR International and the Virtutis Opus Foundation has demonstrated that stigma reduction goes beyond medical interventions.

In Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, persons affected by leprosy have been empowered to tell their own stories through photography, documentary filmmaking and creative expression.

The initiative has also strengthened mental well-being and promoted economic inclusion through leatherwork and handicraft production, enabling participants to produce bags, shoes, belts, key holders and other products that support their livelihoods.

More importantly, the project has shown that dignity, hope and social reintegration are possible when communities, organizations and partners work together with a shared commitment to inclusion.

Behind every photograph, every documentary and every handcrafted product is a story of resilience.

Partnerships are not merely about resources.

They are about restoring voices, rebuilding confidence and creating opportunities for people to participate fully in society.
Together with NLR International and the Virtutis Opus Foundation, LTR remains committed to advancing a future where stigma gives way to dignity and exclusion gives way to inclusion.

09/06/2026

NEW FACILITY ONBOARDING: SAMANJA CLINIC, UNGUWAR SANGARU, BAJOGA

We are delighted to welcome Samanja Clinic, Unguwar Sangaru, Bajoga to our growing network of TB and HIV service delivery facilities in Gombe State.

TB/HIV Active Case Finding Services Now Operational
The facility has commenced TB/HIV Active Case Finding (ACF) services, expanding access to essential screening and referral services within the community.

Experienced Leadership and Expertise
The clinic is owned and managed by the former Manager of Danjola Medical Clinic, Bajoga,one of our actively reporting facilities and a former DOT Officer with extensive experience in TB/HIV service delivery.

Strengthening Community Access
This onboarding enhances coverage and improves access to TB and HIV screening, diagnosis, and linkage to care for residents of Unguwar Sangaru and neighboring communities.

We appreciate the commitment of the Samanja Clinic team and look forward to a productive partnership in advancing community health outcomes.

09/06/2026

INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
Invisible Before Disability:

Why Nigeria Needs Vulnerability Intelligence, Not Just Disease Surveillance

For decades, disease programmes have largely measured success through the number of cases detected, treated, and cured.

While these indicators remain essential, they do not reveal the full reality experienced by many persons affected by leprosy and other neglected conditions.

A person may complete treatment and still remain trapped in poverty.

A person may be medically cured and yet continue to experience social exclusion.

A household may have access to treatment but lack access to decent housing, livelihoods, education, or social protection.

These realities often remain invisible because they are rarely measured.

The absence of vulnerability data means that invisible forms of exclusion continue to exist beyond the health system.

Across many communities, individuals who have completed treatment continue to face challenges associated with unemployment, stigma, poor housing conditions, food insecurity, disability, and social isolation.

Unfortunately, these dimensions are not routinely captured within conventional disease surveillance systems.

As a result, interventions frequently end when treatment ends, even though vulnerability persists.

Evidence from years of community engagement suggests that vulnerability does not always begin with disability.

It often begins with poverty.
It is reinforced by stigma.
It is worsened by inadequate housing.
It deepens when access to livelihoods and social support remains limited.

Without understanding these factors, reintegration efforts become fragmented and reactive.
This raises an important question.

How many medically cured individuals are still living in conditions that prevent them from fully participating in society?

The answer remains largely unknown because the necessary intelligence systems do not yet exist.

Nigeria has made remarkable progress in case detection, treatment, and prevention.
However, the next frontier may require moving beyond disease surveillance towards vulnerability intelligence.

Understanding where exclusion exists, who remains vulnerable, and what barriers persist could help inform more targeted and sustainable responses.

Data on housing conditions, livelihoods, nutrition, disability, psychosocial well-being, and social inclusion may become just as important as clinical indicators in shaping future interventions.

What Nigeria cannot see; Nigeria cannot solve.

And what is not measured often remains neglected.

As conversations around social reintegration continue to evolve, strengthening vulnerability intelligence may become one of the most important investments for achieving dignity, inclusion, and lasting recovery.

08/06/2026

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CURE?

For decades, public health conversations have rightly focused on diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

These investments have saved lives, reduced suffering, and strengthened health systems across Nigeria.

But an important policy question remains.

What happens after treatment ends?

What happens when a person has completed treatment but remains excluded from employment opportunities?

What happens when stigma continues to affect housing, education, social participation, and economic independence?

What happens when recovery is achieved medically, but reintegration remains incomplete?

Across many sectors, our systems are designed to help people survive illness.

Far fewer systems are designed to help people rebuild their lives afterwards.

Perhaps the next frontier of inclusion is not only ensuring access to treatment, but also ensuring access to dignity, opportunity, participation, and belonging.

At LTR Nigeria, we believe the national conversation on health and inclusion must continue beyond cure.

As we strengthen disease control efforts, we must also begin asking how our policies can support the journey from treatment to reintegration.

Because restoring health is important.

Restoring opportunity is transformative.

07/06/2026

WHAT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TEACH US ABOUT LEADERSHIP

LTR Leadership Reflections | Volume 1

In conversations about leadership, attention is often directed toward those who occupy positions of authority. Leadership is frequently associated with titles, offices, influence, and decision-making power. Yet across communities in Nigeria, there exists another form of leadership that rarely receives public recognition despite its profound impact on people's lives.
It is the leadership demonstrated by community volunteers.

Every day, community volunteers walk into places where systems are often stretched and resources are limited. They visit homes, sit with families, listen to fears, provide encouragement, offer guidance, and help connect people to essential health and social services. Many of these acts go unnoticed. They are not captured in headlines. They are not accompanied by public ceremonies. Yet they represent some of the most powerful examples of leadership in action.

Community volunteers remind us that leadership is not merely about directing people. It is about serving people.
True leadership begins with presence. Before communities trust institutions, they often trust individuals. The volunteer who consistently visits, listens without judgment, and shows concern during difficult moments becomes a source of reassurance and hope. Through their actions, community volunteers demonstrate that leadership is built on relationships long before it is built on authority.

They also teach us the importance of empathy.

In a world increasingly driven by speed and performance indicators, empathy can sometimes be viewed as secondary. Yet many of the most significant breakthroughs in community development occur because someone took the time to listen. Community volunteers understand that behind every statistic is a human being, behind every diagnosis is a family, and behind every challenge is a story that deserves to be heard. Their work reminds us that effective leadership requires the ability to understand people's realities before attempting to change them.

Community volunteers further demonstrate that leadership is rooted in consistency rather than visibility.

Many leaders are celebrated for major achievements, but communities are often transformed through small, repeated acts of commitment. A volunteer who continues to visit a household, follow up on a referral, encourage treatment adherence, or support a vulnerable family is exercising a form of leadership that is patient, steady, and deeply impactful. These acts may appear ordinary, but over time they contribute to extraordinary outcomes.

Perhaps most importantly, community volunteers teach us that leadership is measured by the number of lives improved rather than the number of people supervised.

Their influence is rarely defined by organizational structures. Instead, it is reflected in the trust they build, the barriers they help overcome, and the confidence they inspire in others. Through their service, they help strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and create pathways to dignity and inclusion.

As an organization committed to advancing health, inclusion, and social justice, LTR Nigeria recognizes that community volunteers are not simply program actors.
They are community leaders. They are bridge-builders between systems and people. They are advocates for those whose voices are often unheard. They are living examples of compassionate leadership.

As we reflect on the future of community development, public health, and social inclusion, there is much we can learn from those who serve closest to the people. Their experiences remind us that leadership does not always stand behind a podium. Sometimes it sits in a family's living room, walks through a remote community, or spends time listening to someone who simply needs to be heard.

The strongest leaders are not always those with the loudest voices.
Often, they are the ones who quietly choose service over recognition, compassion over convenience, and commitment over applause.

In celebrating community volunteers, we are also celebrating a powerful truth: leadership is not defined by position. Leadership is defined by impact.

LTR Nigeria remains committed to supporting and amplifying the work of community volunteers whose dedication continues to strengthen communities, expand access to care, and build a more inclusive society for all.

06/06/2026

We will go first.

Today, we stand with Fabunmi Julius, a survivor of leprosy and a community leader whose voice reminds us that no one should be defined by a disease.

His voice matters because it challenges stigma, promotes dignity, and gives hope to thousands of Nigerians affected by leprosy who still face discrimination despite the fact that leprosy is curable.

Too many people affected by leprosy remain unheard. Today, we choose to listen. We choose inclusion. We choose dignity.

Now it's your turn.

Tell us: Who do you stand with, and why does their voice matter?

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

LTR Nigeria Treats 50,000 TB Patients, Reaches 1.69m with TB/Leprosy Outreach-