MSF Advocates for Noma Prevention in Nigeria's Healthcare

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called for the integration of noma prevention and treatment into Nigeria's primary healthcare services to improve early detection and access to care. Noma, also known as cancrum oris, is a severe disease that destroys soft tissues and bones of the mouth and face.

Samuel Ajamah, the MSF Nursing Activity Manager at the Noma Hospital in Sokoto, made this call during the final phase of the Sokoto State Ministry of Health's 2026 surgical intervention programme at the hospital. Between 2014 and 2025, MSF teams performed 1,645 reconstructive surgeries on 1,078 patients, with 1,034 patients receiving medical treatment in 2025 alone.

An earlier surgical intervention in 2026 delivered 55 reconstructive procedures. Ajamah identified low awareness among communities and healthcare workers as a significant challenge, noting that patients often visit multiple health facilities before receiving an accurate diagnosis, which delays critical treatment opportunities.

He advocated for enhanced training and awareness to promote early diagnosis and timely access to care.