Noma Initiative Ethiopia (NIE)
Never for Noma!
Message of Board Chairman
Prof. Dr. med/org. Dr. phil. Dr. phil. Heron Gezahegn Gebretsadik
Board Chair and Founder, Noma Initiative Ethiopia (NIE)
Welcome to Noma Initiative Ethiopia (NIE), an organization founded with the mission to address one of the most devastating yet neglected diseases affecting vulnerable populations—noma. Noma is a rapidly progressive and disfiguring orofacial disease that claims the lives of 90% of its victims within few weeks, leaving survivors severely disfigured and suffering from significant psychosocial and functional impairments. Despite its catastrophic impact, noma remains largely unknown, even within the medical community, and is often overlooked as a public health crisis.
This disease primarily affects malnourished and immunocompromised children living in extreme poverty, most commonly in the “Noma Belt,” a region stretching from West to East Africa. In Ethiopia, noma is present across all regions, with Gambella having the highest estimated prevalence. The contributing factors, such as malnutrition, measles infections, and weakened immune systems, are prevalent in these areas, further exacerbating the suffering of the most vulnerable populations.
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Noma Initiative Ethiopia was founded with the aim of bridging the critical knowledge gap surrounding this disease. Our organization is dedicated to conducting in-depth research to better understand noma, providing vital scientific insights to health authorities, policymakers, and other key stakeholders. Raising awareness among the public and health professionals is another crucial step in ensuring that noma receives the attention and resources it so desperately requires.
At NIE, we also envision working with partners to deliver comprehensive care to those affected by noma. This includes surgical interventions, physical rehabilitation, psychological support, socio-economic assistance, and social reintegration. Our efforts will not stop at research and awareness; we are committed to bringing hope and healing to those who have been scarred by this preventable disease.
On behalf of the Noma Initiative Ethiopia, I call upon health professionals, advocacy groups, government bodies, organizations, and researchers to unite in this fight. Together, we can overcome the ignorance and inaction that have allowed noma to persist and work toward a future where no one is affected by this dehumanizing disease.
At Noma Initiative Ethiopia (NIE), we drew inspiration from the German word “Nie,” which means “never.” This powerful word reflects our unwavering commitment to eradicating Noma. With this in mind, we enthusiastically say, “Never for Noma”—a declaration of our determination to ensure that Noma is never allowed to affect another life.