Facing Africa is an established charity dedicated to helping children in Nigeria and Ethiopia that are affected by a devastating disease called NOMA.
NOMA is an acute and ravaging gangrenous infection affecting the face. The victims are mainly children under the age of six, caught in a vicious cycle of extreme poverty and malnutrition. The mortality rate for this disease is estimated at about 90%. Those who do survive suffer from immense distress.
In addition to the surgery, Facing Africa is committed to training local medical staff to be better able to treat the condition. Ethiopian surgeons are also invited to observe and assist during surgery. Facing Africa also donates surgical instruments, consumables and disposables to Ethiopian hospitals at the end of each mission. Facing Africa provides funding for two teams of volunteer surgeons from the UK, Germany, France, and Holland to travel to Sub-Saharan Africa to perform complex facial reconstruction surgery on the victims of NOMA. Each visit costs around US$ 120,000 which includes costs for travel, medical, and surgical equipment, CT scans and care for patients. Over this two week period, the team generally carries out up to 45 facial reconstructions. and social isolation as a result of their facial deformities.
Since its inception in 1998, Facing Africa has raised US$ 4.4 million and has helped more than 270 children.
Further information regarding NOMA can be found at: http://www.facingafrica.org/