Sultan Applauds MSF’s Efforts In Sokoto

Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has expressed appreciation for the achievements recorded so far by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders in Sokoto State.

Represented by the district head of Wurno, Alhaji Abubakar Chigari Alhassan, the sultan commended MSF for supporting Sokoto State and Nigeria in general in the area of treatment and prevention of Noma diseases.

He said, “we will continue to galvanise support for MSF for its activities to succeed In Sokoto State and the country at large.”

With the recent completion of 32 surgeries by a team of MSF/Doctors Without Borders in another round of surgical intervention at the Noma Hospital in Sokoto State, a total of 1,066 major surgeries have been conducted since the start of the activities in 2014, for Noma patients.

MSF moved a step further, commemorating the Noma Day, in collaboration with the health authorities and other stakeholders, to raise awareness about the disease, address stigmata attached to it and highlight specialised activities on the disease.

Noma is an orofacial infection, mainly occurring in malnourished children. It is a non-contagious bacterial disease that starts as an inflammation of the gums, similar to a small mouth ulcer. In just two weeks, the infection starts to destroy bones and tissues, potentially affecting the jaw, lips, cheeks, nose or eyes, leaving survivors with physical consequences including pain, breathing complications and difficulties in eating.