Let’s pay more attention to Noma infection

Noma, otherwise known as necrotising ulcerative stomatitis, gangrenous stomatitis or cancrum oris, is a bacterial infectious but non-contagious infection; resulting from poor oral hygiene, lack of sanitation and malnutrition, affecting both soft and hard tissues of the mouth and face, rapidly progressive and more often than not fatal.  Most common sign and symptom is the […]

Noma, otherwise known as necrotising ulcerative stomatitis, gangrenous stomatitis or cancrum oris, is a bacterial infectious but non-contagious infection; resulting from poor oral hygiene, lack of sanitation and malnutrition, affecting both soft and hard tissues of the mouth and face, rapidly progressive and more often than not fatal. 

Most common sign and symptom is the development of ulcer in the mucous membrane of the mouth before spreading to other parts of the face. If detected early, condition can be arrested with antibiotics, proper nutrition and oral hygiene while late diagnosis even if treated does not restore disfigured or damaged tissues. 

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Affecting children between 2-6 years of age, the disease is more prevalent in impoverished communities in Asia and Africa. 

Preventable but deadly, all over the world, Noma has been neglected over the years. The absence of current epidemiological data has made the data of World Health Organisation (WHO) from 1998 the most frequently cited estimation of the disease, with a global estimation of 140,000 new cases recorded annually, with majority in sub-Saharan Africa and a mortality rate of 90 per cent if not treated within two weeks. 

The infection has not spared  children in Nigeria,  killing numbers and leaving survivors disfigured, coupled with reality of leaving the rest of their lives under stigmatisation. 

This informed the decision of the Federal Ministry of Health to call on the WHO at the 75th World Health Assembly to include Noma on the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) where it belongs. 

The call was aimed at rallying global support in order to eliminate, start preventive and curative measures against the preventable but deadly disease. 

The Noma Children’s Hospital, Sokoto established in 1999, has been the only specialist hospital shouldering the burden of the debilitating disease in the country. But this year Noma Aid Nigeria Initiative (NANI) began construction of a new 100 bed National Noma Treatment Centre within the National Hospital, Abuja. 

Medical experts say the disease is curable and even preventable but lack of awareness has made a good number of patients die at home without visiting hospital. 

I would like to advocate that an awareness campaign be held annually and this should be taken to people in the rural areas who are most vulnerable and unaware. 

 Similarly, more specialists should be trained on the infection and effort be made to establish more specialist hospitals in at least each geopolitical zone of the country. 

Furthermore, people should be educated to embrace oral hygiene and proper nutrition. 

Lastly, I urge all to avoid stigmatisation of the victims of the disease. 

Lawal Dahiru Mamman is a corps member  serving in  Abuja  [email protected]