World NTDs Day: Beyond the scars - one Noma survivor’s story

30 January 2026: A Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)-supported hospital in northern Nigeria is one of the few facilities in the world where survivors of Noma, the neglected tropical disease that affects faces and mouths, can access treatment.

“I remember when I was in primary school, only my cousin would agree to sit with me,” says Hussaini Usman.

Born in the northern state of Kebbi, Usman, aged 31, contracted Noma disease as a child. He was lucky to survive but faced incredible abuse and discrimination. As he grew up, Usman found it difficult to find a job and says he was turned down based on how he looked.

“Some people were thinking that maybe God is punishing (me),” he says.

His experience is not unique. Noma survivors regularly report facing discrimination and social isolation, especially given the lack of public awareness about the neglected tropical disease.

In the northern Nigerian city of Sokoto, staff from the state ministry of health and MSF are working to change this at the Sokoto Noma Hospital. There, MSF’s approach places equal emphasis on lifesaving medical care, rehabilitation, and community engagement to promote early diagnosis and reduce stigma. Noma survivors and their caregivers are able to access free care and a supportive environment.

Additionally, surgeries are offered two to four times a year, giving survivors access to reconstructive procedures to support healing and recovery. Between 2014, when MSF began supporting hospital activities, and 2025, MSF supported more than 1,600 major reconstructive surgeries for 1,074 patients through 33 surgical interventions, including 99 surgeries for 89 patients in 2025.

“We take great care to ensure that our – usually young – patients and their caregivers feel comfortable and supported during what can be a traumatic period of their lives,” says Rosewiter Marunza, Outreach Medical Team Leader.

In 2023, a global campaign – led in part by MSF – secured Noma a place on the World Health Organization (WHO) official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This has opened new streams of funding and expanded awareness of the disease, which primarily affects children ages two to six years old and can lead to facial disfigurement and death if not treated immediately. The disease is often associated with extreme poverty and impacts children who experience malnutrition and poor oral hygiene.

“The disease unfortunately can have a long-lasting stigma,” says Haruna Yohanna, Nurse Team Supervisor. “I’m hopeful that in the years to come, this will go away as more people learn about what Noma is and isn’t.”

For Usman, discovering Noma Sokoto Hospital in the neighbouring state led to significant changes in his life. There, he underwent treatment and surgery. The experience has changed the way that others see him – and how he sees himself. Today he works as a hygiene agent at Noma Sokoto Hospital, supporting patients and maintaining a safe care environment.

“Some of the people that were unable to associate with me have now started associating with me,” says Usman. “I have confidence now to join the congregation.”

--ENDS--