Monthly Noma Webinars
Monthly seminars will be held on the last Tuesday of each month from 16h00 to 17h00 South Africa Standard Time (UTC/GMT +2 hours).
Dr. Lealem Tilahun Gelaw
Noma surgeon, Ethiopia
Tuesday the 30th of June 2026
at 16h00 to 17h00 South Africa time (UTC/GMT +2 hours).
Noma in Ethiopia
Dr. Lealem Tilahun Gelaw, a Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgeon and COSECSA Fellow at Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia, is currently pursuing a Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship at Chang Gung Hospital, Taiwan. Dr. Gelaw completed his specialty training in Plastic Surgery at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Gelaw has participated in surgical missions with Second Chance in African countries and provided pre- and post-operative care for Noma patients with Facing Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
After graduation, Dr Gelaw attended Jimma University as an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery, where he performed reconstructive surgeries and mentored medical students and residents. Dr. Gelaw's research includes the patterns of noma survivors in Ethiopia, and after completing his fellowship, he plans to combine advanced surgical expertise with research to provide comprehensive care for patients with Noma and other complex facial deformities.
Laura Verduci
Tenured Professor in Philosophy and Human Sciences
Tuesday the 28th of July 2026
at 16h00 to 17h00 South Africa time (UTC/GMT +2 hours).
The social and cultural dimensions of noma in Ethiopia
Laura Verduci is an anthropologist, philosopher, educator and former humanitarian worker with extensive experience in migration, global health and social exclusion. She holds Master's degrees in both Philosophy and Anthropology and has worked with Médecins Sans Frontières across multiple humanitarian contexts, including Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and migration settings in the Mediterranean. Her research focuses on the lived experiences of vulnerable and marginalised populations, drawing on qualitative and ethnographic approaches to explore the intersections of health, culture, stigma and social justice. Alongside her academic work, Laura has contributed to journalism, documentary filmmaking and advocacy initiatives focused on migration, displacement and access to healthcare.
Laura's presentation explores the social and cultural dimensions of noma in Ethiopia through qualitative research. Drawing on participant observation, diaries and interviews, she examines how stigma, social exclusion and local beliefs shape the experiences of people affected by noma, highlighting the profound social and psychological consequences of this neglected disease and the need for greater awareness among communities and healthcare workers.