By Anthony Maliki, Abuja
The Head of Mission, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), in Nigeria, Dr. Ahmad Bilal, said the international medical humanitarian organisation is focusing around local capacity building and expertise in awareness creation and prevention of noma in various communities.
This is apart from roles played towards strengthening noma responses by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and Sokoto State Ministry of Health where MSF carries out noma interventions
MSF’s noma interventions are mainly in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states with collaboration with Noma Children Hospital in Sokoto.
Dr. Bilal made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the commemoration of the 2026 Oral Health Week and Noma Day and Scientific conference in Abuja on Monday.
The commemoration has as theme: “Integrating noma into primary healthcare: From comprehensive management to prevention” with two sub themes viz: “Microbial pathways in the progression from gingivitis to noma” and “Mental health and psychosocial consequences of noma.”
According to him, MSF have long collaboration since 2014 and have been focusing on prevention, surgical reconstructive surgeries, working on capacity building and have treated more than 1,700 major constructive surgeries.
Dr. Bilal noted that creating awareness and engagement, he said MSF has established community health promotion groups sending them to different communities and villages, where they talk about diseases and noma as well.
He explained that by next year, MSF plans to have a medical team to teach primary healthcare medical staff, community traditional healers and religious people.
Dr. Bilal also emphasized the role of the media in enlightening people on the dangers of noma.
