This infection, if caught early, is able to be treated with simple antibiotics but if left will ravage and eat its way through skin, muscle and sometimes bone. In the West it largely disappeared from society towards the end of the 19th century as a result of improved living conditions and nutrition amongst the poor. Here in West Africa it remains a huge problem, often called the 'true face of poverty'. It has a high mortality rate; 90% of patients suffering with noma will die; meaning of the 140,000, 126,000 die every year.
If they survive they are left with permanent disfigurement that will render them ostracised by their communities. In addition they may also have functional impairment which can cause starvation as noma begins with mouth ulcers and the scar tissue formed following the infection can restrict jaw movement or even destroy lips.
One of the ways Mercy Ships serves the people of West Africa is through the complex work of rebuilding faces ravaged by noma. This happens on the maxillo facial ward, ward D, on board and recently we have had the joy of watching these patients begin on this long journey.
They include; Toyi, an older gentleman in his 60s who sometime when he was a child suffered with noma leaving him without his nose and part of his left cheek. The hole gaping in the middle of his face where his nose should be has been filled with a tissue flap taken from his scalp which with further operations will be remodelled into a nose. He has changed from an old man, who was impeded by not being able to speak with most people because of his tribal language of northern Togo which is not spoken near to Lome and who would not meet your eyes. Now he smiles, looking into the mirror at his new nose. He has also served as a great comfort to the man beside him, Papakey, who has also had the same operation, as he was several weeks ahead in the timeline of healing! His lack of nose was not a victum of noma but a machete attack.
Toyi
Papakey
The third is a little boy called Moukaela who was seen previously on the 2010 outreach when Mercy Ships were here in Togo for wounds and scarring from noma. His surgery was scheduled then but was unfortunately unable to be complete because his wounds failed to heal. He is a boy who has contractures from scar tissue caused by noma, causing his little mouth to be unable to open properly; permanently pursed into the centre and his jaw to be frozen in place closed. As you can imagine this makes eating, drinking and talking difficult as well as the fact that he constantly drools saliva; making school impossible as children are punished if they are dribbling onto their books and desks.
His mama is such a caring and patient woman who has looked after him since 2010 desperately trying to promote his healing. He had the first of what will be many operations in an attempt to allow some closure and to regain some functional status of his mouth. Initially we seemed to be winning but recently the saliva which is still continuing to pool has caused his wound to break down and it is infected. Please be praying for this wound to heal; in our strength and capailities it is impossible but we look to a God who is powerful, sovereign and can do the impossible. If it doesn't heal this time he faces many more years of being ostracised, not receiving an education until we can offer more of a permanent and radical operation when he is a teenager. Please be praying for strength and comfort for his mama as well as she seeks to care for him and his little brother. God has already been showing his goodness and grace as even for the few short weeks he has been with us he has already changed into a happy, laughing little boy, once realising that we all accept and love him as he is. What a reminder of how God looks upon us, even with all our sin and shame.
Moukaela
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
No comments:
Post a Comment