Noma
Noma
Noma is a facial gangrene infection that primarily affects children. Its name comes from the Greek word “nomē”, meaning "to devour".
The disease starts in the mouth and eats away the facial tissue, leaving survivors with severe disfigurements. These can cause life-threatening impairments and crippling social stigma.
Where noma is detected at an early stage, its progression can be rapidly halted, through basic hygiene, antibiotics and nutritional rehabilitation. Without treatment, noma is fatal in 90 percent of cases.
90%
PEOPLE WITH NOMA WHO DIE WITHIN TWO WEEKS WITHOUT TREATMENT
140,000
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CHILDREN AFFECTED EACH YEAR
2 WEEKS
AMOUNT OF TIME RECOVERY TAKES WITH TREATMENT
