About us

Noma Initiative Ethiopia (NIE) has been registered and accorded legal personality with registry number 7473 as a nongovernmental organization in accordance with the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Proclamation No. 1113/2019. NIE is dedicated to conducting research, raising awareness, and providing comprehensive care for those affected by noma. The organization aims to close the knowledge gap, support health authorities, and ensure that noma is no longer neglected.

Our Mission​

The Noma Initiative Ethiopia (NIE) is committed to advancing research, raising awareness, and providing comprehensive care for individuals affected by noma.

NIE aims to close the knowledge gap about this devastating disease, support health authorities, and ensure that noma is no longer a neglected health issue. Through collaborations with key stakeholders, NIE strives to deliver surgical interventions, physical rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and social reintegration for those affected, ultimately improving their quality of life.

Our Vision​

NIE envisions a world where noma is fully understood, effectively treated, and ultimately eradicated.

By mobilizing resources and fostering awareness, the organization seeks to transform noma from a neglected and under-researched disease into one that is well-recognized, with comprehensive care systems in place. NIE aspires to a future where no child suffers from noma, and where affected individuals receive timely and life-saving interventions, leading to healthier and more resilient communities.

Facts About Noma

Noma is a rapidly progressing and disfiguring orofacial disease that primarily affects malnourished and immunocompromised children living in extreme poverty.

  • Mortality rate: Without treatment, noma kills 90% of those affected within few weeks.

  • Survivors of noma are left with severe facial disfigurement, leading to profound psychosocial and functional challenges.

  • Prevalence: Noma is most common in disadvantaged communities, particularly in the “Noma Belt,” a region stretching from West Africa to East Africa. Ethiopia, especially the Gambella region, has one of the highest prevalence rates.

  • Risk factors for noma include malnutrition, measles infections, weakened immune systems, and living in poverty. The disease is rarely seen in developed countries, where economic progress and improved healthcare have nearly eliminated it, except in sporadic cases linked to diseases like HIV/AIDS.

  • Despite its devastating impact, noma remains one of the least studied diseases. It is largely unknown, even among healthcare professionals, and is often overlooked as a public health concern.

  • While the exact cause is not fully understood, noma is thought to be triggered by multiple bacteria, though the precise causative agent has yet to be identified.

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