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MSF, other health authorities celebrate Noma Day
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
Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Wednesday, undertook a working visit to Diffa Region of Niger Republic on Wednesday.
The visit, which included a high-level security and economic delegation, focused on strengthening the existing collaboration between Nigerian and Nigerien forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency, particularly around the shores of Lake Chad.
Diffa is a community 17 km from Damasak town in northern Borno where thousands of Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are currently taking refuge.
Zulum was received by the Governor of Diffa, Brigadier General Mahamaduo Ibrahim Bagadoma, and other senior officials. The leaders held closed-door meetings centered on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the recent gains that have pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds.
Zulum outlined plan to leverage the improved security situation to facilitate the return of thousands of displaced farmers to the vast and fertile agricultural lands around Dutchi town within the Lake Chad basin.
Part of the Governor’s entourage are Engr Bukar Talba, a member of the House of Representatives, Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, and otheir senior government officials.
Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community
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Army Troops neutralised bandit as stray bullet mistakenly hits students during gunfight in Benue
Army Troops neutralised bandit as stray bullet mistakenly hits students during gunfight in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected bandit was neutralised by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke during a gun battle in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue, on Tuesday, but stray bullets mistakenly hit three students, killing one.
Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 3:20 p.m. while soldiers were returning from a routine patrol in the area.
The source said trouble started when the patrol team sighted some suspected bandits on a motorcycle carrying firearms.
“On sighting the troops, the hoodlums opened fire. The soldiers immediately engaged them in a gun duel. In the exchange of fire, one of the hoodlums was shot dead, while others escaped, abandoning their motorcycle.
“Unfortunately, three students of Government Science Secondary School, Jato-Aka, who were closing from school at the time, were hit by stray bullets. One female student was later confirmed dead by a doctor at NKST Hospital, Jato-Aka, while the other two were admitted and are responding to treatment,” the source explained.
The corpse of the neutralised bandit was also deposited at the NKST Hospital Mortuary.
Military sources confirmed the incident, stressing that the troops only acted in self-defence after being fired upon by the armed hoodlums.
He described the death of the student as an unfortunate accident, assuring that efforts would be made to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Zagazola reports that news of the incident triggered a violent protest in Jato-Aka town, as angry youths took to the streets and set ablaze the office of the traditional ruler, Mue Ter.
The Police o confirmed the incident, saying personnel and operatives of the Police Mobile Force were deployed to the area to restore calm.
“The situation has been brought under control and normalcy has returned, but monitoring and patrols are ongoing to forestall further breakdown of law and order,”said the sources.
Meanwhile, authorities have appealed to residents of Jato-Aka to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations into the incident continue.
Army Troops neutralised bandit as stray bullet mistakenly hits students during gunfight in Benue
Federal Commissioner PCC visits CP Borno on strategic synergy for better engagement
By: Our Reporter
The Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Borno State, Hon. Yusuf Adamu, has paid a courtesy visit to the Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP N. ABDULMAJID, to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions in addressing public complaints and enhancing community policing.
Hon. Adamu congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment and thanked him for the immediate attention given to complaints. He said:
“The synergy between the Commission and the Police is vital. We urge the Command to continue to be proactive in handling cases, especially those related to drugs, which are fueling vices such as TikTok and other cybercrime in schools.”
He also urged the Police Command to work closely with community leaders, parents, schools, and religious institutions to address drug abuse among children and young adults. He further linked the PCC’s forthcoming 50th Anniversary to the importance of psychosocial support and thanked the Police Commissioner for assigning an officer to liaise with the PCC in the enforcement unit.
In his response, the Commissioner of Police commended the PCC for consistently referring prosecutable cases to the Police. He assured:
“The same cooperation I experienced with the Commission in my former command will be replicated in Borno. We shall continue to work hand in hand with stakeholders to ensure that complaints are addressed and cases within the PCC’s powers referred for effective investigation.”
He added that community policing had come to stay and would involve community leaders, market women, imams, and parents. He also called for regulation of social media misuse, while urging the PCC to intensify enlightenment of citizens.
The visit featured the signing of the visitors’ book, presentation of the PCC’s Act and mandate, and a group photograph.
End
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