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From noma to health for all, addressing the imperative of the most neglected communities

Tuesday 23 May 2023, 08:00am - 09:30am

Noma is closer than ever to getting the attention it deserves. The Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria, with the endorsement of over thirty countries from five different regions, has submitted a dossier of evidence in January 2023 to see this devastating disease included in the World Health Organization (WHO) list of Neglected tropical diseases. Even though being easily preventable and treatable, noma still causes the death of up to 90% of those affected each year, or an estimated 110,000 people according to WHO estimates.

In May 2021, the World Health Assembly adopted a historic resolution (WHA74.5) recognising that oral health should be included in the essential health services package that delivers Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and that noma should be included in the 2023 review process to consider the classification of additional diseases within the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030. This commitment was further strengthened during the first stakeholders meeting on noma and again in the WHO global strategy oral health, grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted in May 2022.

This event wants to mobilise stakeholders to support this urgent goal, highlight noma as a case for implementing targeted Primary Health Care to achieve UHC and strengthen the future road map. Member States, survivors of noma, researchers, medical practitioners, donors, health focused humanitarian and development organisations, and UN representatives will get together in Geneva to finally put a spotlight on noma and noma survivors

Partners
It is organised by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in partnership with the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD), the Geneva Health Forum (GHF), the Swiss Alliance Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (SANTD), the University of York’s Centre for Applied Human Rights and York Law School and Elysium, the first noma survivors organisation.

Presentation and discussion are in English.

The event is open to the public. This event is free of charge but for logistical reasons it is requested to register at the following link: Register