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By Doris Obinna
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has unveiled a Dermatology Centre at its Yaba campus, for skin care, training and research in Nigeria.
The three-storey facility, fully funded by the Federal Government, promises to improve healthcare delivery while curbing the need for Nigerians to seek dermatology services abroad.
Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, hailed the facility as a game-changer for both patients and healthcare workers. “This centre provides world-class facilities for patient care, research, and training. Our doctors, nurses, and pharmacists now have an environment where they can work comfortably, and Nigerians no longer have to travel abroad for conditions as simple as skin diseases.”
Adeyemo noted that the new facility addresses long-standing challenges in healthcare infrastructure. “Previously, our dermatology services were housed in outdated, pre-colonial structures that were inadequate for both patients and staff. Today, we have a modern, three-floor centre with lecture halls, seminar rooms, and specialized treatment areas covering all aspects of dermatology,” he explained.
The CMD emphasised sustainability as a core feature of the new centre. “The building is powered by a 45-kilowatt solar system, supplemented by a dedicated generator, ensuring uninterrupted operations. Every project we commission at LUTH now comes with solar backup. This centre can run off-grid and will be maintained to the highest standards. We are not just building; we are sustaining,” he added.
Adeyemo also addressed the importance of prioritization in healthcare development. While the federal government has funded several hospital projects across campuses, dermatology, rheumatology, and psychiatry had previously been underfunded. “It’s about priorities, and we made dermatology a priority. Today, we have delivered a facility that Nigerians can be proud of,” he said.
Also, the guest speaker, Professor of Medicine at the University College of Medicine, Ibadan, Adebola Ogunbiyi, highlighted the critical role dermatology plays in public health. “Dermatology is a vital part of medicine. The skin is the body’s largest organ, yet skin disorders are often overlooked. They affect quality of life, social inclusion, and mental health,” she said.
Ogunbiyi drew attention to the widespread issue of stigmatization and inadequate treatment for skin conditions in Nigeria. “Many patients hide their conditions, dress differently, or even remain indoors due to societal discrimination. Some patients suffer unnecessarily because they consult unqualified practitioners instead of specialists. This centre allows dermatologists to practice comprehensively; medical, surgical, cosmetic, and teledermatology as well as gives patients a chance at a better life,” she said.
She called for government support in integrating dermatology into national health insurance schemes and increasing public awareness about treatable skin conditions, citing examples of preventable suffering among children with infections or conditions like albinism and lamellae ichthyosis. “Many skin conditions are treatable or manageable. With proper access and awareness, patients can live dignified, productive lives,” Ogunbiyi emphasized.
Emerita Professor Yetunde Mercy Olumide, a pioneer in Nigerian dermatology, also praised the development, recalling decades of service in the old, dilapidated facility.
Speaking during her goodwill message, the 82-year-old professor described the moment as one of the happiest days of her life, noting that the new facility marked a significant transformation from the old, decrepit structure where she and her colleagues once rendered services.
“To witness this transformation in my lifetime is profoundly moving. This centre will enhance patient care, support teaching and research, and encourage our professionals to remain in Nigeria,” she said.
