On 13th August 2026, ASATTAHIR International Foundation (AIF) participated in a stakeholders’ engagement workshop on Noma disease organized by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders, in collaboration with the Noma Children’s Hospital (NCH), Sokoto.
The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among stakeholders, sharing experiences, and identifying gaps in the prevention, early detection, referral, treatment, and rehabilitation of Noma patients in Sokoto State.
AIF’s Head of Programs and Research, Rufus Yagkong, highlighted the Foundation’s ongoing work on Noma case detection and referral. He noted that AIF’s Noma detection team has been at the frontline of case finding, particularly in hard-to-reach communities, and has successfully identified and referred suspected Noma cases to the Noma Children’s Hospital for specialized treatment and reconstructive surgery.
He commended Médecins Sans Frontières for its professionalism, the simplified referral pathway, and the quality of care provided to patients and their caregivers free of charge at the hospital.
The workshop provided an important platform for stakeholders to share experiences and discuss practical actions to strengthen Noma prevention, early detection, referral, treatment, and integration into the state health system.
AIF remains open to partnerships and collaborations with government institutions, international organizations, development partners, health institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen Noma case finding, community awareness, research, referral, treatment, rehabilitation, and other interventions aimed at reducing the burden of Noma in Northwest Nigeria.
