Forty patients suffering from noma are expected to undergo reconstructive surgery at the Noma Hospital in Sokoto State as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, conducts its final surgical intervention for 2026.

Ajamah Samuel Afemike, MSF Nursing Activity Manager at the hospital, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Tuesday.

Afemike said the organisation had supported the Sokoto State Ministry of Health’s Noma Hospital since 2014, providing specialised care for patients affected by the disease.

He said MSF’s interventions included early case detection, medical treatment, nutritional support, physiotherapy, psychosocial care and reconstructive surgery.

“Since 2014, MSF has supported the Ministry of Health’s Noma Hospital in Sokoto, one of the few specialised centres for noma treatment in the world,” Afemike said.

According to him, MSF teams performed 1,645 reconstructive surgeries on 1,078 patients between 2014 and 2025.

He added that 1,034 patients received medical treatment and other forms of support in 2025 alone, including surgery, nutritional care, physiotherapy and psychosocial assistance.

Afemike said the organisation’s first surgical intervention of 2026, conducted between April 17 and May 1, resulted in 55 reconstructive surgeries.

“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,” he said.

He stressed that noma was preventable and treatable, noting that early detection and prompt medical intervention could prevent severe complications and deaths.

“No child should suffer or die from a disease that can be detected early and effectively managed,” Afemike said.

Although the recognition of noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease was an important milestone, he said greater investment was needed to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment.

“Recognition of noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease was an important step, but recognition alone is not enough. We now need practical investment in prevention, early diagnosis and access to care,” he said.

Describing noma as a marker of inequality, Afemike said tackling the disease required stronger primary healthcare services, better nutrition, improved vaccination coverage and greater access to health services.

He called for the integration of noma prevention and treatment into primary healthcare services, alongside improved training and awareness among frontline health workers.

“We need the inclusion of noma in routine disease surveillance systems, effective referral pathways to specialised care, and the availability of essential medicines, nutritional support and comprehensive care services,” he said.

Afemike also emphasised the need for increased community awareness to promote prevention, early detection and timely treatment.