Medicines San Frontiers (MSF) also known as Doctors Without Borders, has identified Noma disease as a major mortality threat to children in rural communities.
Noma disease is a neglected disease that affects poor people, mainly occurring in malnourished children.
Ms Ghada Saafan, the Communication Manager of MSF in Nigeria told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that “Noma is a disease high in fatality especially in the rural communities.
“Noma as a disease is a result of poor immunity, malnutrition and poor hygiene among children, 90 per cent of children who have Noma die if they are untreated, and those who survive, suffer a lot.
Read also: Why we have constant death of fishes – Ghana Fisheries Advocate
“It is a severe disease that has high fatality, and those who survive suffer severe facial disfigurement, many lose part of their mouth or nose or eyes, and they need to carry on their lives normally, and this is where plastic surgery comes.
“The role of the surgeon here is to help restore the functionality of the patient’s face. In the past, we have brought international surgeons to conduct this surgery.
“Now, we are trying to establish a network of Nigerian surgeons who can cooperate with Noma Hospital that can provide reconstructive plastic surgery.”
Saafan advocated for more awareness to cushion the effect of mortality from Noma, which caused facial deformities among survivors that were often rejected from society and family members.
According to her, there should be more awareness about the disease which is preventable and treatable.
“We are worried that there are children who get Noma and die without us even knowing about them and they don’t have much knowledge about it.
“So, we tell communities and health workers the kind of treatment to be followed and the signs to recognise Noma, and also follow regular vaccination,” she said.
Saafan maintained that MSF was contributing to fighting the dreaded disease among communities in Nigeria.
She said “we create awareness about Noma in states like Sokoto, Zamfara, and Niger.
“We are collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Sokoto State Government with support from Sultan of Sokoto, they have accepted to create more awareness about the disease.
“So in addition to responding to the need for emergency care for this disease, we also provide some knowledge on prevention measures.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Noma to be a public health issue as far back as 1994.
At the 48th Session of the Regional Committee for the African Sub-region held in Harare in 1998, a resolution was adopted, calling for enhanced preventive and control measures against Noma. (NAN)
