The WHO has fearfully reported that Noma may be on the increase in various African countries.

This is hardly surprising considering the economic crisis in many sub-Saharan countries which impairs the health and well being of children through increasingly overcrowded conditions, deteriorating sanitation and inadequate nutrition. Food supplies in some sub-Saharan countries have declined over the past decade and many people are afflicted by severe chronic malnutrition, famine and drought.

The picture is further complicated by increasing numbers of armed conflicts, the AIDS epidemic and a high level of corruption in many parts of Africa.

Furthermore, countries like Ethiopia with a population of 105 million only have about 200 qualified dentists, 50 plastic surgeons and limited numbers of experienced anaesthetists. The hospitals are woefully equipped with out of date or damaged surgical instruments and frequent shortages of anaesthetic drugs and antibiotics.

During the 2020/2021 pandemic, the Facing Africa was unable to travel to Ethiopia, we donated the majority of our stores dugs, medications, consumable and disposables to hospitals in Ethiopia where medical supplies became critically low.