We invite you to a special screening of Restoring Dignity, a moving documentary by Claire Jeantet and Fabrice Catérini that explores the lives of noma survivors in Nigeria. The event will take place at the WHO Academy and includes a post-screening discussion on this neglected tropical disease.
Why Attend?
Hosted in partnership with WHO’s Health for All Film Festival (HAFF) and Médecins Sans Frontières, this event offers an opportunity to hear firsthand stories of resilience.
Restoring Dignity follows five survivors (Sakina, Amina, Adamu, Mulikat, and Aliyu) on their journey to reclaim their lives after years of pain, stigma, and isolation. Their stories highlight both the physical and emotional toll of noma, and the strength it takes to overcome it.
About noma
Noma is a gangrenous infection that begins in the mouth and is caused by extreme poverty, malnutrition, and poor hygiene. In December 2023, WHO officially recognized noma as a neglected tropical disease supported by 32 countries. Without treatment, the infection can destroy facial tissue within two weeks and has a fatality rate of up to 90%.
Event highlights
Following the screening, join a live Q&A session with:
- Mulikat Okanlawon, noma survivor, advocate, and President of Elysium, the first association of noma survivors. Mulikat was named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in health in 2024.
- Claire Jeantet, Médecins Sans Frontières Noma advocacy focal point, filmmaker and director of Restoring Dignity
- Dr Albis Francesco Gabrielli, WHO expert on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases
This event also celebrates the goals of HAFF and the WHO Academy in using film to raise awareness and promote health education.
Languages
The film will be shown in a bilingual format with French and English subtitles. The discussion will be held in French.
How to Join
Please register here to attend: https://indico.un.org/e/Film-Noma
Related information
Watch the trailer for Restoring Dignity and explore additional resources on MSF noma website.