Mulikat Okanlawon and Fidel Strub, co-founders of Elysium, have been pivotal in driving a successful awareness campaign on noma. Their efforts, which earned them a spot on TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Global Health, have been instrumental in noma’s recent addition to the WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases. As such, their work is transforming the fight against this devastating disease and directing resources to this crucial cause.

Photo by © Inediz

A Cause for Celebration:

The decision for noma to be recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) has been made.

The global community celebrates this decision by the WHO, recognizing the inclusion of noma in the official list of neglected tropical diseases. This milestone is crucial as it signifies a collective effort to address a health challenge that has long been overlooked. The acknowledgment of noma as a neglected tropical disease is a step towards mobilizing resources and attention to combat this devastating condition on a global scale.

Noma

A NEGLECTED ENIGMA

© Claire Jeantet & Fabrice Catérini/Inediz

Not just restoring smiles…

RESTORING DIGNITY

© Claire Jeantet & Fabrice Catérini/Inediz

Noma does not discriminate.

It is a common misconception that noma only affects young children in African countries. However, noma can affect anyone of any age or racial backgrounds. 

Noma is absolutely preventable. 

Only if there is knowledge about the disease and how to treat it. Good nutrition, oral hygiene and access to healthcare and vaccinations against childhood diseases all help to prevent noma.

Noma is treatable if detected and managed early.

With basic oral hygiene, antibiotics and wound dressing a patient can recover from noma within a few weeks. This is helped by managing underlying risk factors, such as malnutrition and other diseases like measles.

Noma is not transmitted from one person to another.

Noma is not a contagious disease nor caused by witchcraft or curse on child’s parents.

Noma is not an acronym.

Noma stems from the Greek word “Nomein” which means “to devour”

© Chloé Fournier/Inediz

Noma is a disease of Poverty and Food Insecurity

© Claire Jeantet & Fabrice Catérini/Inediz

Noma can be prevented through Early Detection and Intervention

  • Jenny Luo, Dr. Rosenbloom and Maddie Jong at an Africa Talk.

  • Hellen Huang and Camryn Rohringer leading the Q&A after watching the film "Restoring Dignity, A Journey with Noma Survivors."

  • Avery Donkin-Vershuven and Dr. Rosenbloom posing for a photo for an image to accompany an article in the Dentistry Faculty newsletter about the NAG Talk by Fidel Strub, noma survivor, and introducing the upcoming first interprofessional education (IPE) session about noma.

  • Claire Jeantet sharing the award-winning film, Restoring Dignity, A Journey with Noma Survivors. his film is being screened to commemorate World NTD (Neglected Tropical Diseases) Day on January 30th.

  • From left to right: Jenny Luo, April Xu, Susan D’Souza and Jackie Mamedova. A photo after April and Susan gave an Africa Talk presentation about their trip to Addis Ababa University as part of TAAAC (Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration) to UT faculty, staff and students. Jenny and Jackie were part of the Africa Talk planning team as DSS reps.

  • Dr. Rosenbloom gives a talk on the etiology, impact, and treatment of Noma, a disease of poverty, and global health in dentistry.

  • Photography by Jeff Comber

Several photos on these pages are of patients at Sokoto Noma Hospital, Nigeria, taken throughout 2016 and 2017. Founded in 1999, it is one of the few hospitals in the world that is dedicated to treating children and adults who have noma, including reconstructive surgery.

Permission for the use of the images was granted by © Claire Jeantet - Fabrice Catérini / Inediz. These images are not to be used or distributed in another context without the previous agreement of the photographers.