Thread by @julienpotet

Live-tweeting about the 1st online conference on noma disease. Stay tune !
#ZeroNoma #NTDs

https://twitter.com/Inediz/status/1359835195336228864

Opening message by @PeterHotez. Peter is among other things editor of @PLOSNTDs. The journal recently agreed to include noma in the list of eligible diseases for publication. #NTDs

Noma survivor @FidelStrub tells his personal story. Underwent 27 surgical operations ! Moving testimony by a strong advocate !

Noma medical expert Denise Baratti-Mayer says that noma disease progression is very quick. Unfortunately, most children and families seek care too late, once lesions are no longer reversible.

There are still unknowns about the etiology of noma. Noma appears to be a non-contagious opportunistic infection, probably caused by commensal bacteria, and strongly associated to other diseases or poverty (i.e. malnutrition, past measles infection, poor oral hygiene).

Denise Baratti-Mayer concludes her presentation with epidemiological numbers. Incidence of noma is estimated to be between 30,000-140,000 per year, with a very high mortality rate.
There are up to 700,000 noma survivors around the world.

Short and strong message by @drEOEhanire, Minister of Health of Nigeria 🇳🇬. This country is very seriously addressing noma and leading global advocacy efforts.

Noma expert Klaas Marck reminds us that there were many cases of noma in Europe until the XIXth century. Policies promoting WASH and hygiene, as well as nutritional support, were critical to eradicate noma in Europe.

This is a map of reported cases of noma in recent history. But it is actually not completely accurate. You'll see that Lao 🇱🇦 is not coloured, although Leila Srour has identified many noma cases in rural Lao over the last two decades.

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 is another country now committed to tackling noma. Head of noma control program Rose Drabo describes the response at national level.

20 years ago, adventurer @bertrandpiccard saw a young girl with noma for the first time. He initially thought that her face had gotten hit by an axe!
Since then, he's been a tireless advocate for recognition of noma as a public health priority.

Noma survivor Mulikat Okanlawon from Nigeria 🇳🇬 tells her story. She came all the way from Lagos to receive surgery in Sokoto. In spite of stgmatization, she says that "all of us can raise awareness of noma disease. After surgery, there is life".

.@IoanaCismas presents her project on noma: better estimate burden of disease, better evaluate the social impact of noma. Noma patients and survivors very often suffer from discriminations and rejection.

#MSF is actively engaged against noma, particularly in Sokoto, Nigeria. @DrChristou vibrantly calls for the recognition of noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease by @who in order to raise awareness & mobilise resources. #ZeroNoma #NTDs #BeatNTDs

Bukola Oluyide tells the stories of several noma patients treated in Sokoto and describes the holistic approach taken by #MSF: surgery, nutrition, mental health support, physiotherapy, awareness, operational research.

Surgery and facial reconstruction are critical interventions for young children with irreversible lesions caused by noma. But these interventions present many technical challenges in resource-limited settings, says Issa Hamady from @HilfsaktionNoma.
#GlobalSurgery

Last speaker is @makinooon3. Actions by @WHOAFRO against noma are part of the oral health program. Progress has been made, but it would be great to see more sectors involved, not just oral health.

The 1st online conference on noma will soon come to an end. That was a landmark moment.
If you want to know more about noma, visit the dedicated website by #MSF.
#ZeroNoma #NTDs noma.msf.org