THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bellhocine, has appealed to the Sokoto State government to start a radio programme which will create awareness on the factors responsible for NOMA also known as cancrum oris.

Bellhacine, who spoke during a courtesy call on Governor Attahira Dalhatu Bafarawa, said that the ignorance of mothers was the greatest contributing factor to the disease.

He described NOMA as a gangerenous infection of the oral cavity which affected children of zero to six years, leading to a disfiguration of the face in older children and adults who survive.

According to him, NOMA is an indicator of poverty because it is seen in very poor communities with poor oral hygiene, malnutrition and debilitating diseases such as measles and other deficient conditions.

According to him, the disease which is common in most parts of the world is no longer in Europe and other developed countries with improved economies nutrition and vaccination.

He said that even in Nigeria, the disease was now only common in Northern communities.

He added that those affected were neglected and not brought forward for treatment due to the stigma attached to the disease.

He praised the Bafarawa government for its concern for the victim of NOMA and the establishment of the NOMA children hospital which, he said, was the only one of its kind in the whole world.

He praised the expatriate surgeons nurses and anaesthetists who carry out rehabilitative surgery four times yearly at the hospital.

Bellhocine, who was at the head of a working group for the prevention and control of NOMA, said that the objective of the team was to design measures for the prevention of NOMA.

"Seeing our young children die from preventable disease is not acceptable. Seeing our young ones who will be the leaders of tomorrow grow into adults, with NOMA scar is also not acceptable."

He said that once the awareness had been created, the world body would give the necessary support to control NOMA in Sokoto State and the rest of the country.

Responding, Governor Bafarawa called on the Federal Government to take over the NOMA Children Hospital which, he said, was built and equipped by the state government at a cost of N120 million

Bafarawa said that the cost of running the hospital, including the salaries of doctors, nurses and other staff was a big burden on the state government. He stated that only about 15 per cent the patients were from Sokoto State.