http://odili.net/news/source/2013/apr/7/802.html

Face-eating disease spreads in Nigeria

by Anna Okon

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NOMA, a severe disease that affects the face is silently spreading in Nigeria. Studies carried out in the last two years have revealed that about 126,000 Nigerians die from NOMA disease every year.

Although it is relatively unknown, the disease has been plaguing lives especially of people in the North. Victoria Nkong, the coordinator of the campaign against NOMA disease, explains the symptoms as initial sore or rash inside the mouth of a victim, which if left untreated gradually grows and in the process, part of the face is eaten up with gangrene. She says that in extreme cases, the disease eats its way into the heart and vital organs of the victim's body leading to death.

"Although most of the cases of NOMA disease can be found in the Northern part of the country, we have recorded a few cases in Lagos and in most of those cases, due to ignorance about the disease, people brand the victims as accursed people or demons. NOMA disease is prevalent among the poor and it is caused by acute malnutrition. Children and young people from the ages of two to seven years are mostly affected but in rare cases, adults can fall victims. If detected early, it can be treated with common antibiotics but when it is left untreated, the disease eats out the whole face, at which point the victim will have to undergo a very expensive corrective surgery," says Nkong.

Nkong emphasises the existence and spread of the disease in the country, urging sufferers to get treatment and possibly surgery.

"Most medical practitioners in Nigeria do not know about NOMA but this is a disease that kills faster than AIDS and the level of ignorance about it in Nigeria is alarming. Since it mostly affects the poor people, it is cheaper to treat at the early stages. A poor man living below N100 a day cannot be expected to raise £40,000 needed for corrective surgery and the medical budget from the Federal Government cannot adequately take care of such expenses. So it is very important for people to undergo proper screening and tests to tackle the disease before it gets to the maturity stage."

Nkong informs that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal is passionate about the campaign against the disease and will flag off a ceremony to raise fund for the campaign this month in Lagos.

95% of the diseases in Nigeria are in Northern regions. The more they kill innocent citizens in the name of religion, the more nature and fate pay them back in kind with all sorts of pestilence: VVF, guinea worm, TB,eye infections, Polio, leprosy and now, flesh-eating bacteria.

yet they prefare dying by diseases than stop killing innocent southerners.

but funny enough its always southern doctors that helps them.

Karma is a b1tch!!

Just like the Southerners are selling babies in this century.

this news reminds me of God's judgments on the Egyptians by plaguing them with pestilences!

adejoro75: 95% of the diseases in Nigeria are in Northern regions. The more they kill innocent citizens in the name of religion, the more nature and fate pay them back in kind with all sorts of pestilence: VVF, guinea worm, TB,eye infections, Polio, leprosy and now, flesh-eating bacteria.

What is the source of this information ?

^^Just wait for the source, don't worry.

tpacalipse: ^^Just wait for the source, don't worry.

I think you meant to say, we pulled the story out our ar.ses.

Nice magic trick - kid

I hope this isn't real/true...

ahhh may god protect us

adejoro75: 95% of the diseases in Nigeria are in Northern regions. The more they kill innocent citizens in the name of religion, the more nature and fate pay them back in kind with all sorts of pestilence: VVF, guinea worm, TB,eye infections, Polio, leprosy and now, flesh-eating bacteria.

Very myopic statements...

And our leaders responsible for the general backwardness there? What happens to them?

WTF?? EBOLA!! NORMA? WTF??

Please mods, always write "STRONG GRAPHIC CONTENT, VIEWERS' DISCRETION ADVISED" on threads like this. Be sensitive!!!

tomakint: this news reminds me of God's judgments on the Egyptians by plaguing them with pestilences!

The same loving God that sent his son on suicide mission.
So a loving God sends diseases to people....

When doctors cure them, are they working against God?

God help o

Shocking! Strong Graphic Content! @Op: Don't be insensitive to NL readers!!

Horribe . PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

someone pls break this English down acute malnutrition

Pathetic I must say, but obviously there is the normal hype from NGO's, about an ailment, so as to get funding.

May God help us all, Amen.

Which one be NNEOMA again

tomakint: this news reminds me of God's judgments on the Egyptians by plaguing them with pestilences!

Your opinion reminds me of the dark ages when every unexplained disease is attributed to some God. Sad people like you still exist in the 21st century

Northeners and diseases.I wonder what the north will be like when their wishes are granted them.Western education is a sin.so pls I hope they'll leave western medicine alone.and die in their ignorance and diseases.fo.ol.ish cows.ignorant apes.

Nawa oøo... God help us.

adejoro75: 95% of the diseases in Nigeria are in Northern regions. The more they kill innocent citizens in the name of religion, the more nature and fate pay them back in kind with all sorts of pestilence: VVF, guinea worm, TB,eye infections, Polio, leprosy and now, flesh-eating bacteria.

Banza Jahilee "abeg try go school"

A USAID Coordinator from USA whom i interact with whenever he comes to Nigeria has this to say: It will take the North about 100yrs to get to the level of human development in the South if they change the way they practice their religion otherwise their situation will continuously get worse to the point that you cannot differentiate them from animals.

its better this nation is divided,all of the diseases are from the north.very backward people...Britain will never know peace for joining us under one Nation.instead of Northerners to think of ways of moving thier people forward-they are busy terrorizing people.

Wetin man pikin no go hear for this country Which one come be face chopping disease again? nawa o!!

This disease was made in labs. They have now dumped it on Nigerians.

Love_Decay:

What is the source of this information ?

google is ur friend