Breaking silence, igniting action: Noma's wail for global health recourse and intervention

Antibiotics (metronidazole, amoxicillin) will arrest or retard the progression into septicemia. 6 Late-stage presentation may require extensive plastic/reconstructive surgery. 4,6 The economic and social effects of NTDs especially noma in Sub-Saharan Africa are an increase in vulnerable age group mortality as it affects the extremely poor who cannot afford the high cost of care thereby aggravating their fates with a profoundly high mortality rate in untreated patients. 7 It causes an increase in productive labor loss due to functional impairments in productive age groups, consequently causing a negative psychological affectation likewise. 6,7 Noma also causes unsightly facial disfigurements, leading to social alienation and worsening mental health. [...]the recognition of noma as a NTD by the WHO is a call to action for the scientific community, policymakers, government leaders, and healthcare practitioners. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT The authors declare no conflicts of interest.