Noma: National hospital performs 457 free surgeries

The Noma Centre at the National Hospital, Abuja, has performed 457 complex reconstructive surgeries on children affected by the disease since its establishment, with all treatments provided free of charge.

The National Coordinator of the Noma Aid Nigeria Initiative, Dr Charles Ononiwu, disclosed this in Abuja during the 2026 Oral Health Week, Noma Day and Scientific Conference, according to a statement he issued on Tuesday.

Ononiwu said the centre had treated 321 patients and currently had more than 80 children receiving care, adding that 208 surgeries were performed in 2026 alone.

He said the facility attended to an average of 82 patients monthly, noting that its interventions had helped many children who would otherwise have struggled to access expensive reconstructive procedures.

The surgeon warned that noma, a rapidly progressing disease that destroys facial tissues, could cause devastating damage within a week if left untreated.

He urged parents to pay attention to complaints of mouth pain among children, particularly those aged between two and six years, and seek immediate medical attention.

“Make sure you maintain good oral hygiene for your children. If your child complains of pain in the mouth, please look for a hospital immediately,” he advised.

Ononiwu identified poor oral hygiene, severe malnutrition and weakened immunity as major factors that predisposed children to the disease, stressing that early diagnosis and treatment could prevent extensive tissue destruction.

He explained that treatment at the early stage could involve basic antibiotics and adequate feeding, while reconstructive surgery for advanced cases could cost between N7 million and N10 million.

The coordinator urged families, healthcare workers and members of the public to report suspected cases through the initiative’s toll-free line, assuring them that arrangements would be made to cover treatment, transportation and hospital bills.

He said the centre provided comprehensive care through a multidisciplinary team comprising plastic surgeons, ear, nose and throat specialists, paediatricians, clinical psychologists and other healthcare professionals.

Beyond medical interventions, Ononiwu said the facility offered basic education, psychological support and vocational training to affected children and their parents during treatment, which could last several months.

He added that the centre also received patients from other African countries, including Mozambique and Burundi.

According to him, the initiative provides economic support to vulnerable families through business equipment and resources to establish small enterprises, as part of efforts to address poverty and reduce the risk factors associated with noma.

“The centre provided direct social assistance to 57 severe cases, enrolled 132 pupils in educational programmes, and empowered 143 participants through specialised skill acquisition classes during 2026,” he said.

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Meanwhile, the Federal Government has unveiled a N70bn five-year National Strategic Plan for Oral Health (2026–2030), aimed at improving access to oral healthcare, strengthening preventive services and tackling diseases, including noma.

The Minister of State for Health, Adekunle Salako, said the funding would be jointly provided by the three tiers of government and development partners, with state and local governments contributing 49 per cent, the Federal Government 30 per cent and development partners the remaining 21 per cent.

The plan is expected to strengthen the integration of oral healthcare into primary healthcare services, improve early diagnosis and expand access to treatment, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The World Health Organisation called for noma prevention, early detection and referral services to be integrated into primary healthcare, stressing the need to equip frontline health workers to recognise the disease before it causes irreversible damage.

Also speaking at the conference, the Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, called for stronger community-based prevention and early detection to reduce the number of Nigerian children affected by noma.

Delivering a memorial lecture titled ‘A Legacy of Healing and Hope: Celebrating a Life of Dedication to Children Affected by Noma,’ Adebiyi urged the government to incorporate noma awareness into school curricula and called on Nigerians to stop discriminating against survivors.

She stressed that addressing the disease required sustained public education, community participation and improved access to healthcare.

Similarly, the President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Tope Adeyemi, acknowledged the association’s contributions to efforts to strengthen oral healthcare delivery in the country.

The conference, organised by the Noma Centre Abuja in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals and development partners to examine progress in patient care, surgical interventions and public health advocacy.

The memorial lecture also honoured the late Mama Ute Winkler-Stumpf (1943–2020), founder of Hilfsaktion NOMA E.V., whose humanitarian work supported the treatment and rehabilitation of children affected by the disease.

Noma, also known as cancrum oris, is a rapidly progressing, non-communicable gangrenous disease that primarily affects children aged between two and six years, particularly those living in extreme poverty and suffering from malnutrition and poor oral hygiene.

The disease begins as an infection of the gums and can rapidly spread, destroying the soft and hard tissues of the mouth and face, leaving survivors with severe facial disfigurement, difficulties with eating and speaking, and lasting psychological and social consequences.

The World Health Organisation added noma to its list of neglected tropical diseases in December 2023, following advocacy led by Nigeria and supported by 32 member states. The recognition was intended to increase international attention, research, funding and access to interventions.

A July 2026 study published in The Lancet Global Health, which examined the geographical distribution of noma in Nigeria between 1999 and 2024, estimated 50,782 cases across 296 local government areas in 12 states, highlighting the need for stronger surveillance and targeted community interventions.

WHO says early detection is critical because the disease can be stopped with basic treatment, including antibiotics, improved nutrition and oral hygiene, before it progresses to extensive facial destruction.