Forty patients affected by noma are expected to undergo reconstructive surgery in Sokoto as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, begins its final surgical intervention for the year.
The operation is taking place at the Noma Hospital in Sokoto, where the international medical organisation has supported specialised treatment for the disease since 2014 in partnership with the state Ministry of Health.
MSF Nursing Activity Manager at the hospital, Ajamah Samuel Afemike, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Tuesday, saying the organisation’s work covered early detection, medical treatment, nutritional support, physiotherapy, psychosocial care and reconstructive surgery.
“The final surgical intervention of 2026 is currently ongoing at the Noma Hospital in Sokoto, where 40 patients are expected to undergo life-changing reconstructive surgery,” Afemike said.
He said MSF teams performed 1,645 reconstructive surgeries on 1,078 patients between 2014 and 2025.
In 2025 alone, 1,034 patients received medical treatment and other forms of support, including surgery, nutritional care, physiotherapy and psychosocial assistance.
The organisation’s first surgical intervention this year, conducted from April 17 to May 1, resulted in 55 reconstructive operations.
Afemike stressed that noma, a severe disease that can cause extensive damage to facial tissues, is preventable and treatable when detected early and managed promptly.
“No child should suffer or die from a disease that can be detected early and effectively managed,” he said.
He called for increased investment in prevention, early diagnosis and access to specialised care, noting that the recognition of noma as a neglected tropical disease needed to be backed by practical action.
“Recognition of noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease was an important step, but recognition alone is not enough,” he said.
Afemike said tackling the disease required stronger primary healthcare services, improved nutrition and vaccination coverage, and better access to treatment.
He urged authorities to integrate noma prevention and treatment into primary healthcare, train frontline health workers to recognise early symptoms and include the disease in routine surveillance systems.
He also called for effective referral pathways, access to essential medicines and nutritional support, alongside community awareness campaigns to encourage early detection and timely treatment.
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