MSF Performs 1,645 Surgeries for Noma Patients in Sokoto

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that it conducted 1,645 reconstructive surgeries for 1,078 noma patients at the Noma Hospital in Sokoto from 2014 to 2025. In 2026, 95 patients received free surgical interventions, with 55 surgeries completed in the first phase from April 17 to May 1, and 40 more expected in the ongoing final phase.

Mr. Ajamah Samuel Afemike, the Nursing Activity Manager at the hospital, explained that noma is a rapidly progressing disease that destroys facial tissues and bones, leading to severe complications if untreated. Approximately 70 to 90 percent of untreated cases result in death, and survivors often face significant challenges, including stigma and financial hardship.

Noma primarily affects children under seven and is linked to extreme poverty and inadequate healthcare. Despite being recognized as a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organization in 2023, noma remains largely unaddressed in Nigeria's healthcare system, necessitating stronger integration into primary healthcare.