Taraba launches campaign against Noma disease

The Taraba State government has intensified its efforts to protect public health by launching a campaign to eradicate Noma disease, a devastating illness known as “the face of poverty.”

The programme, which was inaugurated in Jalingo, underscores the state’s commitment to addressing the plight of vulnerable children affected by the neglected tropical disease (NTD).

Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Buma, noted Taraba’s leading role in tackling Noma.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Harmony Chufor, Dr. Buma noted that Taraba is one of the first states in Nigeria to officially include Noma in its list of NTDs at the state level.

Dr Buma urged development partners, healthcare organisations, and individuals to collaborate with the government to ensure the complete eradication of Noma and other NTDs in the state.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa, explained that Noma, often referred to as “the face of poverty,” primarily affects malnourished children aged 2 to 6 years in impoverished and rural areas.

The disease, according to him, has a staggering mortality rate of 85-90% and leaves survivors with severe facial disfigurements and other complications.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), as observed by The Guardian, recently recognised Noma as the 21st neglected tropical disease, a move that experts say underscores the urgency of addressing its devastating impact.

Supporting the position of both the commissioner and the Executive Secretary of the agency, the state’s NTD Focal Person, Marcus Koltabi, called for intensified global and local efforts to combat the disease.