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MSF, other health authorities celebrate Noma Day

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MSF, other health authorities celebrate Noma Day

By: Our Reporter

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), health authorities, and other stakeholders mark this year’s National Noma Day and Scientific Conference taking place in Abuja on 10th & 11th December with the theme “Listing of noma as Neglected Tropical Disease, What Next?”. The 2024 National Noma Day is particularly significant, as it is the first event since the disease was included on the WHO List of NTDs.

“The inclusion in the WHO’s list of NTDs is an important step, but not the final one. This recognition got noma and noma survivors the attention they deserve, but that attention needs to be maintained and translated into real measures to achieve its elimination. The global health community and donors must continue to prioritize treatment efforts and research to eventually see an end to noma worldwide,” says Mark Sherlock, MSF Health Program Manager.

MSF has consistently collaborated with health authorities and various stakeholders to commemorate Noma Day in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria, and at the national level in Abuja. Nigeria is the only country among the 10 in the WHO Regional Noma Control Programme that observes National Noma Day every year.

The observance of Noma Day aims to raise awareness about the disease, combat the stigma associated with it, and highlight specialized activities related to noma, ensuring that patients have access to the necessary services.

Noma is a preventable and treatable disease that primarily affects people living in poverty, especially young children, and is linked to malnutrition and unsanitary living conditions. The disease usually afflicts individuals in isolated communities with limited access to healthcare and vaccinations. It begins as gum inflammation but can rapidly escalate, destroying facial tissues and bones. Few other infectious diseases cause such rapid fatalities. Untreated, up to 90 percent of those affected may die, often within a few weeks. The 10 percent who survive are frequently left with severe facial disfigurement, impacting their ability to eat, speak, see, or breathe, and they often face stigma due to their appearance.

In 2020, MSF, together with other organizations, noma survivors, and the Nigeria Ministry of Health, launched an international campaign to raise awareness about noma and add noma to the WHO NTDs list. After three years of intense advocacy and communication efforts and the engagement of 30 other nations, noma was officially added as the 21st disease on the WHO NTDs List. One year on, MSF continues to prioritize efforts tackling the disease.

“MSF is focusing on three pillars. The first is to integrate noma screening and treatment in MSF projects around the world, enhancing early recognition and treatment of noma. We want children in endemic countries to be screened for noma at the first sign of symptoms when lives can still be saved. Secondly, MSF is calling for more research into the disease, specifically in the causes of noma and the global epidemiology. Finally, MSF is advocating for the global health community and donors to prioritize the disease and to ensure efforts are made to eventually eliminate noma globally”. Mark Sherlock, MSF Health Program Manager.

The three-year campaign was largely led by the noma survivors, who shared their experiences to convey a simple yet crucial message: noma is a preventable and treatable disease that should no longer exist.

“A year ago, noma was included in the WHO list of Neglected Tropical Diseases, and this is the result of our collective efforts. We have done it together, and I’m sure we can do more starting today. We can bring positive change to the lives of people affected by noma, the ones at risk, and their communities.’ Mulikat Okanlawon, noma advocate and cofounder of Elysium, the first noma survivors’ association.

Since 2014, MSF has supported the Nigerian Ministry of Health’s Sokoto Noma Hospital in northwest Nigeria by providing reconstructive surgery, nutritional support, mental health services, and outreach activities. In these ten years, MSF’s surgical team has performed 1,481 surgeries on 953 patients. MSF conducts specialized and free reconstructive surgeries for noma survivors every four months, targeting around 40 patients per surgical intervention with a team of international and national surgeons and anesthetists.

A year ago, the global community made an important step to bring more public attention to help vulnerable communities who are affected by the disease—progress must not stop there. With continued efforts into the early detection and treatment of the disease, along with more funding for global research, noma could be eliminated.

MSF, other health authorities celebrate Noma Day

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Yobe civil service faces challenges of Boko Haram in 15 years—HoS

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Yobe civil service faces challenges of Boko Haram in 15 years—HoS

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State civil service has faced unprecedented challenges for over fifteen years as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.

This was disclosed by the Yobe State Head of Service, Alhaji Tonga Betara, during the opening of a 5-day workshop commenced by the Multi-sectoral Crisis Recovery Project for North-East Nigeria (MCRP).

The workshop, being held in Kano, brought together over 150 top-ranking civil servants, including directors of personnel management, heads of departments, and other key officials from various MDAs in the state, aimed at strengthening public service for post-crisis recovery.

Alhaji Betara highlighted the devastating impact of the over 15-year insurgency on the civil service and noted that it has affected the performance of civil servants and the experienced public servants are also retiring from service.

“In response to this situation, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, had earlier given approval for various capacity-building training for civil servants in the state.” Tonga said.

He commended the efforts of MCRP for collaborating with the office of the head of service in organizing several capacity-building workshops to complement government efforts on manpower needs of the state.

In his welcome address, Yobe State Project Coordinator MCRP, Alhaji Musa Idi Jidawa, expressed gratitude toGovernor Mai Mala Buni, CON, for his unwavering support and encouragement towards the implementation of the training workshops.

According to him, the civil service faced unprecedented challenges as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency; hence, the workshop is aimed at building capacity to design and implement effective strategies that will enable the civil service in the state to drive recovery efforts.

The workshop is designed to equip participants with necessary skills and knowledge, provide a platform for participants to share experiences, identify challenges, and develop effective strategies for post-crisis recovery in Yobe State.

Yobe civil service faces challenges of Boko Haram in 15 years—HoS

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Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate

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Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate

By: Michael Mike

The bill outlawing infanticide in the country would soon be sponsored on the floor of the Senate, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory has promised.

The lawmaker made this promise at the weekend in Abuja during a visit to Vines Heritage Home (VHH), a home that host scores of children who were saved from infanticide from community within and around the Federal Capital Territory.

The children were declared not worthy of living for being born as twins and were to be killed before being rescued by the Home and taken care of.

Speaking after having interaction with children of the Home, including the proprietor, Olusola Stevens, Senator Kingibe said it was absurd for children to be blamed for the misfortune of their parents or be killed for coming as double blessings.

She said she will be presenting a bill to the Senate to end this scourge and called on the members of the public to come out and speak against infanticide and help the children of the Home.

Speaking earlier, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Mamedu who led Senator Kingibe to the Home, said the organisation was happy to welcome the Senator to the Home, where children rescued from harmful traditional practice of infanticide within the FCT currently reside.

Mamedu, who was represented by the Deputy Country Director of AAN, Hajia Suwaiba Dankabo, said: “Through the co-funding by European Union (EU) and AAN, a three-year project designed to raise awareness and mobilize action towards the abolition of infanticide in the FCT, these children were relocated here. The project established mechanisms to safeguard unborn babies and infants susceptible to being victims of infanticide, as well as those that are currently ostracized.”

He noted that: “A core component of our work involves amplifying the voices of children- particularly girls- to ensure their meaningful participation in decisions that affect their lives. With the support of the European Union, we have implemented child protection programme in 57 communities across five Area Councils of the FCT, focusing on the eradication of harmful traditional practices such as infanticide.”

He added that: “We are deeply grateful for the generous funding support provided by Sony Entertainment through ActionAid Sweden. As a globally recognized organisation, Sony Entertainment understands the crucial role of investing in education and securing a brighter future for children. This invaluable support will significantly impact the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society, particularly the 74 girls from Vines Heritage Home (VHH) and the 219 children under our care.”
End

Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate

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Katsina Police Foil Banditry Attack, Rescue Kidnapped Victims

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Katsina Police Foil Banditry Attack, Rescue Kidnapped Victims

By: Zagazola Makama

Police in Katsina State foiled a banditry attack on May 8, 2025, and successfully rescued two kidnapped victims in Matazu Local Government Area. The attack took place around 1400hrs when armed men, suspected to be bandits, targeted farmers working in the Ilali village area.

The bandits abducted two individuals, Sada Maraya, 45, and Basiru Magaji, 47, both residents of the village.

Upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) mobilized a team of patrol officers and swiftly responded to the scene. The police engaged the bandits in a gunfight, forcing them to flee into a nearby forest.

The victims were rescued unharmed, and efforts to apprehend the fleeing bandits are ongoing.

Katsina Police Foil Banditry Attack, Rescue Kidnapped Victims

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