Noma, from the Greek word “nomein” meaning to devour, is a gangrene that develops in the mouth, starting with a benign lesion and ending up attacking the face. From gingivitis, which becomes ulcerative and necrotic, to an unnoticed swelling of the cheek, the infection spreads in a few days before becoming irreversible, destroying the soft and bony tissues of the face and profoundly disfiguring the survivors, mainly young children between the ages of 2 and 6. 80% to 90% of them die, and those who survive will suffer social, functional and aesthetic consequences. Moreover, they will often be stigmatized and rejected by their communities, which see them as a curse.

The precarious living conditions in countries with high levels of extreme poverty, such as the lack of access to clean water and primary health care, the breastfeeding problems faced by malnourished mothers, the proximity of livestock to living quarters and the resulting lack of hygiene, the ignorance of the disease, the strength of superstitions and traditional beliefs that see noma as a curse rather than a curable disease, all these are aggravating factors.