The designation of noma as an NTD lays bare the obvious and critical need for an integrated approach to health care.
In global health, challenges often reveal hidden opportunities. The recent World Health Organization’s designation of noma as a neglected tropical disease, or NTD, is an excellent example given the potential this represents to put in place a comprehensive approach to care that will benefit noma and other NTD patients the world over.
A devastating and often deadly facial gangrene that affects people in impoverished communities, noma presents both formidable challenges as well as an immediate and far-reaching call to action. This call goes out not only to the NTD community but also to the entire global health and development network: A call to work together to solve problems for the world’s poorest people.
Noma is intrinsically linked to poverty, primarily occurring among malnourished children with limited access to health care. It inflicts not only physical suffering but also profound, life-changing psychological and social scars on its victims.
Extracted from Opinion: It's official, noma is a neglected tropical disease. Now what?
Global Views -- Global Health -- Global Health Matters podcast / 18 January 2024 / By Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall