Research in Nigeria
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with over 230 million people, bears the highest burden of NTDs on the continent. Of the 21 recognised NTDs, 15 are endemic in Nigeria. Over the past decade, the country has recorded an annual average of 2,400 new leprosy cases.
The research program at TLM Nigeria, introduced in 2020, is relatively young but rapidly expanding. With an established and growing research laboratory, we are witnessing remarkable progress.
Our research goal
We aim to drive a robust research, evidence, and learning agenda across all aspects of our work, striving to become Africa’s leading research organisation in NTDs and disability studies.
Our research priorities
Area
Digital health
Specific interests
Real-time and web-based solutions for reporting and recording leprosy programme activities.
Telemedicine solutions to enhance treatment and follow-up.
Mapping (Case-finding and disabilities)
Implementation research
Health Systems Strengthening.
Active Case finding. E.g., Types of contact tracing that is most suitable in various settings.
Status of the implementation of the UN Principles and Guidelines for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy and Their Family Members?
Transmission
How effective is PEP under routine conditions?
Disability
Prevention and management of disabilities.
Leprosy disability burden, especially among children and young persons.
Stigma
Impact of stigma and discrimination on the mental health of persons affected by leprosy (and other NTDs)
What do patients and community members know, believe, fear, and do concerning leprosy that would be relevant for developing tools for IEC regarding stigma, treatment adherence, and prevention of disabilities?
I. Udo S, Ogbu Sunday P, Tsaku P, Oladejo I, Meka A, Ugwu L, Ajisola M, Akinyemi J, Oladejo A, Omigbodun A, Choudhury S, Sartori J, Ilozumba O, Watson S, Lilford R. Raw, Unadulterated African Honey for Ulcer Healing in Leprosy: Protocol for the Honey Experiment on Leprosy Ulcer (HELP) Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIRx Med 2024;5:e50970 URL: https://xmed.jmir.org/2024/1/e50970. DOI: 10.2196/50970
II. Sopna Choudhury, Onaedo Ilozumba, Joydeepa Darlong, Karthikeyan Govindasamy, Paul A Tsaku, Sunday Udo, Dilip Shrestha, Indra B Napit, Linda Ugwu, Anthony Meka, Jo Sartori, Frances Griffiths, Richard J Lilford. Investigating the sustainability of self-help programmes in the context of leprosy and the work of leprosy missions in Nigeria, Nepal and India: a qualitative study protocol. BMJ Open 2023;13:e070604. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070604.
III. Julian Eaton, Tolulope Afolaranmi, Paul Tsaku, Emeka Nwefoh, Philip Ode, Theresa Baird, Pius Sunday, and Taiwo Obindo. Integration of services for Neglected Tropical Diseases and mental health in Nigeria: development of a practical model informed by international recommendations, contextual factors and service-user perspectives. International Health, Volume 15, Issue Supplement_3, December 2023, Pages iii47–iii58, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad074
IV. Taiwo Obindo, Julian Eaton, Paul Tsaku, Emeka Nwefoh, Philip Ode, Theresa Baird, Pius Sunday, and Tolulope Afolaranmi. Integrated services for neglected tropical diseases and mental health: pilot study assessing acceptability, feasibility and attitudes in Benue State, Nigeria. International Health, Volume 15, Issue Supplement_3, December 2023, Pages iii37–iii46, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad073
V. Sunday Udo, Pius Sunday Ogbu, Aliyu Tukur, Paul A. Tsaku, Andrew Newmarch. An assessment of mental health integration in the Neglected Tropical Diseases programme in Zamfara, North-west Nigeria. Int Health. 2024 Mar 28;16(Supplement_1):i52-i59. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihae003. PMID: 38547351; PMCID: PMC10977942.
Promoting mental health and well-being of people affected by skin NTDs: Formative piloting of the WHO Guide on Mental Health and NTD Integration
Documented evidence on effective approaches to integrated Leprosy, Lymphatic filariasis and mental health programmes to inform policy using applied medical research methodology
Capacity Building in Leprosy
