Videos
Publication
News -+
Noma Day
Objectives
Let's get moving to eliminate noma !
Taking action against noma breaches the barriers that exist between the various branches of medicine and humanitarian action. It brings together established institutions and social groups. It builds bridges between curative health care and public health, between scientific knowledge and traditional beliefs.
Winds of Hope and the International NoNoma Federation together decided to organize the first world day devoted to noma on Thursday 22nd May 2008. This Noma Day took place in Geneva under the high patronage of Mr Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, and chaired by Bertrand Piccard, President of Winds of Hope. This special day aimed at eliminating this disfiguring and fatal infection was organised in association with the World Health Organisation and its African Regional Office and with the cooperation of the International Dental Federation.
In the context of his collaboration with the United Nations, Bertrand Piccard had several opportunities to meet Mr Kofi Annan and to discuss with him the state of distress in certain regions of the world and more specifically poverty -related diseases such as noma. So it was quite natural that Winds of Hope should think of contacting the former UN Secretary General. His agreement to be patron of Noma Day gave the event the resonance it deserved.
The objectives of Noma Day were to bring this little known scourge out of the shadows by informing people and raising their awareness through the following measures:
• Alerting the international community to the ravages of noma in children,
• Reinforcing action to prevent noma in the countries affected,
• Improving the commitment of governments to fight this disease,
• Developing and strengthening the partnerships between private initiatives and government authorities to improve noma prevention,
• Pooling resources for the fight against noma,
• Putting in place a policy of common action so as, in time, to eradicate this disease.
The date of the 22nd May was selected in cooperation with WHO to be during that organisation’s General Assembly, so as to allow the health ministers of the affected African countries to be able to participate and represent their countries during the official session.
A Day for Mobilization
Convinced that noma was an apt symbol for extreme poverty, and that these faces - horribly disfigured by poverty - that we hardly, if at all, dare to reveal, were the emblem of a society that prefers to turn a blind eye ... Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones were quite certain that Noma Day would have a great impact, conveying messages about the problem of malnutrition, the consequences of extreme poverty, and the counter-measures that needed to be put in place in the forgotten regions of the world.
The day was organized at the International Conference Center in Geneva (CICG) and consisted of the following elements:
• Scientific lectures by renowned researchers
• Information sessions open to the public
• Youth forum
• Presentations on the activities of humanitarian organizations
• Exhibition of photos and film shows
Scientific lectures
Renowned speakers, scientists with a worldwide reputation, experienced surgeons and WHO representatives were invited to speak on specific subjects:
• Epidemiology and risk factors for noma
• Malnutrition in developing countries and its implications for noma
• The present state of research, and new hypotheses
• Treatment of acute noma cases
• Surgical treatment by local surgeons
• Surgical treatment organized by humanitarian associations
• The sequelae of noma
Information for the general public
This special day offered an excellent opportunity for humanitarian organizations to present the work they do in the field, share practical experiences and have discussions with a view to creating synergies. It also provided an opportunity to better define the situation of NGOs in the different countries and identify the component parts of a joint action plan involving the NGOs and the national programs.
Emphasis was placed on taking a global, informative approach by presenting the disease in its social, medical and humanitarian context.
A mock-up African village served as a communication and information center. It featured information booths representing the associations affiliated to the NoNoma Association under the following thematic headings:
• prevention and screening
• medical and surgical treatment
• social care
• epidemiological and etiological research
There were exhibitions featuring photographic reportages on prevention, surgical treatment and social reintegration in various countries.
Films produced by associations working in the field gave an overall view of the numerous activities already underway.
Lectures for the general public allowed specialists to describe their experience in simple language, with information about the various areas affecting noma (prevention, treatment, social care, research).
Youth Forum – Pedagogy and Education
Teachers and their students were invited to take part in this special day, to attend lectures and visit the exhibitions, so as to become aware of the consequences of malnutrition and lack of hygiene in poor countries.
They were able to visit a village symbolising Africa, find out about the activities and projects of numerous humanitarian organizations, and through the films and photographic reportages, learn about the work of prevention, medical treatment and social reintegration.
A forum was devoted to teenagers who - keen to find out more - were able to listen to the stories of 2 youngsters from Burkina Faso who had been through the traumas of noma and been successfully reintegrated into society, and ask them questions.
Just as in the World Health Assembly, the youngsters had an opportunity to propose recommendations, enabling a resolution to be drawn up for the elimination of noma, which constituted the conclusion of the Youth Forum.
In the lead up to the Noma Day, a file of educational materials had been distributed to teachers so that they had the necessary information to prepare their students for a visit to this first world meeting on the disease of noma. It was also suggested to them that they might like to use this opportunity to give a series of lessons on the North-South economy and the effects of poverty on a large section of humankind.
Media, Communication and Press Conference
A large scale publicity campaign was launched on this occasion advocating the elimination of noma.
The media, once informed and mobilized, were able to alert the international community and public opinion about the existence and impact of noma.
During this World Noma Day a press conference was organized at which Bertrand Piccard was present.
Gala Evening
React and… Act!
To round off the day, a Gala Evening was organized by the Winds of Hope Foundation. Thus ended a day designed to raise awareness about this neglected disease and to raise funds for work in the field fighting noma.
Since 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones have made great efforts to use the impact made by their round-the-world balloon flight to fight the little-known scourge of noma. The organization of this Noma Day and the Gala Evening was the latest element in this combat.
The Noma Gala Evening included silent auctions as well as frequent moments of high emotion.
The event resulted in the raising of almost a million francs for the fight against noma, thanks to the contributions made by Partners (27%), donors (11%), Gala dinner attenders (46%) and auction buyers (16%).
As a result, several associations in the NoNoma Federation received financing from the end of 2008 for various projects in sub-Saharan Africa:
• A Better Life Foundation - Rural health and prevention - Burkina Faso
• Association Idée'Elles -Training of traditional birth attendants - Mali
• Au Fil de la Vie - Awareness-raising and training in the Kayes region - Mali
• Hilfsaktion Noma - A training centre for the whole country - Guinea Bissau
• Persis Burkina & La Voix du Paysan - Noma convention in the north - Burkina Faso
• Ensemble pour Eux - Awareness-raising and surgical missions - Mali & Burkina Faso
• Sentinelles - Training of health workers – west central region - Burkina Faso
• Centre Nokopo - Prevention/awareness-raising & «Bush Baby» project at Kongoussi - Burkina Faso
• Label vert - Prevention and nutrition at Nasséré - Burkina Faso
• Bilifou-Bilifou - Spirulina farm for Persis - Burkina Faso
• Physionoma - Training video - Benin & Burkina Faso
• Non au Noma en RDC - Prevention, awareness-raising, detection and treatment - DR Congo
• Project Harar - Epidemiological study on noma - Ethiopia
Gold Partners
Thanks to the partners who funded the entire organization of the Noma Day and the Gala Evening, Winds of Hope was able to guarantee that the entirety of the donations and receipts from Noma Day was attributed to humanitarian activities and disbursed for campaigns in the field in Africa.
Silver Partners
Bronze Partners
Elite Rent-a-Car
Hoffmann-La Roche
Geberit
Lilly Critical Care Europa
Rotary Toulon Levant Frankreich
St. Jude Medical Schweiz
Outcome
The Noma Day generated a total income of 971'507 CHF. The costs related to the organization of this day amoutned 479'205 CHF. The costs have been totally covered by Winds of Hope's partners. As a result, the totality of the funds generated by the Noma Day were used to support and finance projects in the field in Africa.
Projects supported
