Louis Hartlooper Complex, Utrecht
The Louis Hartlooper Complex in Utrecht hosted a special film night around the documentary Restoring Dignity. The screening was organised by the Dutch Global Health Film Festival, in collaboration with the Global Health Knowledge Centre (KCGH) and Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières. The meeting was attended by around 30 participants.
The documentary Restoring Dignity (2019), directed by Claire Jeantet and Fabrice Catérini (Inediz/MSF), follows the lives of survivors of noma in Nigeria. Noma is a severe, gangrenous infection that starts in the mouth and occurs mainly in situations of extreme poverty, malnutrition and poor hygiene. In December 2023, noma was officially recognised as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), thanks in part to support from 32 countries, including the Netherlands.
The film gave a penetrating picture of the physical and psychosocial consequences of noma. Over a year, Sakina, Amina, Adamu, Mulikat and Aliyu, among others, were followed in their daily lives and in their journey towards medical care and recovery. Their stories highlighted how poverty, stigma and limited access to care come together in a disease that can be devastating in a short period of time.
After the screening, a Q&A and meet & greet took place with Mulikat Okanlawon, herself a noma survivor and prominent advocate for recognition and better care. She works at the hospital where she herself was treated 20 years ago and co-founded Elysium, the first association of noma survivors. In 2024, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in healthcare by TIME.
In addition, Claire Jeantet (director) and Dr Mark Sherlock (Health Programme Manager at MSF) took part in the conversation. They reflected on the making process of the film, the global recognition of noma as a neglected tropical disease and the need for continued international attention to prevention, reconstructive surgery and psychosocial support.
The evening was characterised by an open and engaged dialogue between speakers and audience. The combination of personal testimonies, medical expertise and cinematic storytelling made the impact of noma tangible and underlined the importance of global solidarity and structural commitment against neglected diseases.
Want to know more about our film & dialogue evenings of the Dutch Global Health Film Festival? You can find all the information here.
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