Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has disclosed that it carried out 1,645 reconstructive surgical procedures for 1,078 noma sufferers on the Noma Hospital in Sokoto between 2014 and 2025.
Speaking at a media briefing in Sokoto, the Nursing Activity Manager of the hospital, Mr. Ajamah Samuel Afemike, mentioned in 2026 alone, 95 sufferers benefited from its free surgical interventions.
Afemike mentioned 55 surgical procedures have been carried out through the first section of the intervention held between April 17 and May 1, whereas 40 extra sufferers are anticipated to endure surgical procedure in the continuing closing section for the yr.
He defined that MSF, which has supported the Ministry of Health’s Noma Hospital since 2014, offers early case detection, medical remedy, dietary care, physiotherapy and psychosocial assist to sufferers.
According to him, noma is a non-contagious illness that quickly destroys facial tissues and bones, progressing inside days and inflicting extreme facial injury and life-threatening issues if left untreated.
He mentioned if left untreated, roughly 70 to 90 per cent of affected individuals die, whereas survivors typically undergo difficulties in consuming, talking, respiratory and finishing up day by day actions.
Afemike added that many survivors additionally face stigma, social exclusion, psychological misery, obstacles to training and livelihoods, and monetary hardship.
He famous that noma primarily impacts kids underneath seven years outdated and is intently related to excessive poverty, malnutrition, insufficient oral hygiene, low immunisation protection, recurrent infections and restricted entry to healthcare.
He described noma as each a medical situation and an indicator of broader gaps in major healthcare techniques, lamenting that consciousness stays extraordinarily restricted amongst communities and frontline healthcare staff.
He noticed that many sufferers go to a number of well being services earlier than receiving right prognosis, thereby shedding alternative for life-saving early remedy with antibiotics, wound care and dietary assist.
Despite being recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) in 2023, Afemike mentioned noma stays largely absent from routine healthcare and baby well being programmes in Nigeria, calling for stronger motion to combine its prevention, detection, remedy, referral and surveillance into major healthcare.
