Photographies to : http://groups.msn.com/LeBurkinaFasoNoma/

On 23 December 2003, the radio station Castel FM (92FM) at Casteljaloux was kind enough to invite me to participate in its programme “Passions”. It was entirely devoted to my Association’s work. Broadcast live, we phoned the pediatrican Dr. Zala, my correspondant in Burkina Faso. He explained in simple terms the Noma disease and the ravages it causes.

The name Noma or Cancrum Oris stems from the Greek word ’Nomen’ which means to gnaw or devour.

The Noma is a facial gangrène which starts in the gums and which evolves very rapidly. It arises in circumstances of malnutrition, lack of immunities and is very often associated with a multi-microbiotic infections of the mouth.

Immediately the gangrene sets in, its progression is very quick. One week is sufficient for it to completely disfigure a face.

If the disease is rapidly diagnosed and is limited to the gum stage, its progression can be stemmed and a cure can take place without leaving any traces.

But one must act very quickly!

Unfortunately, rapid intervention is difficult with these disfavoured populations which have practically no means to fight the disease. People do not consult doctors or go to surgerys because they believe they will not be able to pay for treatment or medecine. So they do not come to be looked after… It is a disease that afflicts the needy and all too appropriately bears its sad name: “The Visage of Poverty”.
These children come from the poorest families but equally from the capital Ouagadougou and its slum quarters whose inhabitants do not know that they can obtain free medical help. So they wait… and withdraw upon themselves because they are ashamed.

They hide from others. They do not complain because they feel ’guilty’, as though they were victims of some kind of curse. That sums up the human drama of these Noma sufferers who are difficult to locate and care for.

Some families reject their own children. Entire villages can cast them out. They can no longer smile, or laugh, they cannot even cry. The worst is that they cannot eat.

In its final phase, the lower jaw remains blocked closed and there can be just half a millimetre between the teeth to ingest food. Nourrishment can then only be taken in liquid form or through a tube.

Some families attempt traditional cures but these do not always have an effect. And so they come for treatment only when the ’damage’ is done. For others, it is already too late…

It is then vital to stop the evolution of the disease, and facial surgery has to be considered.

Some children aged 3 weigh only 5kg!

Malnutrition is at the origin of the Noma. AIDS also arrives in such conditions and just aggravates things. It can also lead to the disease.
The Noma is not contagious. One can eat in the same plate as a sufferer and use the same spoon as a sick child - with the proviso that one is not oneself immuno-depressive, with mouth lesions or convalescent.

With an antibiotic which costs very little and when the Noma is taken very early, it can be successfully treated.

Collecting antibiotics and good medical supplies from pharmacies and from generous donators : that is my daily task.