Keynotes & Addresses
Shaping the global conversation on resilience, policy, and health equity.
The Impulse: New York Address
(TIME100 Impact Dinner: Leaders Shaping the Future of Health)
Transcript
"Tonight, I would like to give a toast to celebrate life. And I’m not saying this lightly.
I was born in one of the poorest regions of the world, affected by one of the most devastating diseases. Up to 90% of the people affected by Noma don’t make it. And still, I am here today with you.
I don’t know why I survived. Science doesn’t have answers yet. But I know that many people like you, dedicated professionals who are pushing boundaries, contributed.
When Dr. Zala first met me, I was just skin and bones. He had very little hope, but still, he literally fought to save my life. Later, many others contributed to improve my health and quality of life. I went through 27 surgeries to reconstruct my face. And just learning to blow out a candle took me three years through speech therapy.
At one point, I decided to take action. As Mulikat, the co-founder of Elysium, aptly says: 'There is ability in disability.'
No matter the challenges you face along the way, never underestimate the power of people’s capabilities.
Remember, and let no one convince you otherwise. Your sheer determination and hard work have an impact. Your achievements are inspiring. And I am convinced that together, we can make a change in this world.
So let’s celebrate our collective hope, the dream we dare to chase, the future we shape together, the ones who are no longer with us, and the ones we have not met yet.
To us, and to life, may our actions echo far beyond these walls."
The London Address (APPG - House of Lords)
Strategic Policy & The Human Cost of NeglectDelivered at the UK Parliament | January 31, 2024
Transcript
"My name is Fidel Strub. I was born in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Around the age of three, I was infected by a little-known disease called Noma, which ignited a battle for survival that would span nearly two decades.
The pain began as a subtle pinch in the right cheek. My parents realised early on that something was not right as my health was declining rapidly. They brought me to doctors, but they didn’t know what it was or what to do. Noma was destroying my face at an alarming rate.
By sheer luck, a Swiss organisation had started a radio campaign asking to bring every child with a hole in the face to the north of the country, where one doctor, Dr. Zala, knew what to do. This led to my proper diagnosis and treatment, but Noma had already taken a devastating toll. It destroyed half of my lips, my nose, and my cheekbone. My right eye was lower than where it should be. My palate was gone, and with it, the muscles necessary for basic functions like chewing and speaking. My dignity was also taken away.
The damage to my face was so extensive that I was sent to Switzerland and adopted by Swiss doctors. My mother would say that I adopted her; she was always by my side and the only familiar face in a country where everything was new.
Over the next 15 years, I endured a total of 27 surgeries to reconstruct my face, six years of daily speech therapy, and psychological treatment. Every step took years. Just learning how to blow out a candle took me half a year. This was a very lonely and hard fight which tested my mental limits a few times. But I was, and still am, lucky that I had access to all this support.
After overcoming my mental battles, I decided to take action. We know how to prevent and treat Noma; we cannot wait to act. Experts estimate the disease affects 140,000 people every year, and up to 90% of them die in just a few weeks.
We share our survival stories to show how much Noma actually affected us and why we cannot accept that it still exists. All of this could have been avoided if there was awareness.
We want to ensure people at risk and their communities are educated about Noma, and people affected by it are treated on time. Furthermore, we want to give survivors the chance to reclaim their lives and dreams. We want to make it possible for them to pursue an education or start their own business. We want them to be empowered, as we have been, so they can make a fruitful contribution to society as they deserve.
We believe our stories, filled with pain but also with resilience and hope, can serve as catalysts for change, inspiring a movement that vows to protect future generations from the cruelty of Noma and all Neglected Tropical Diseases."
APPG Official Report (UK Parliament)
“Fidel Strub spoke passionately about surviving noma, his journey through countless reconstructive surgeries, and his drive to get more attention to both this cruel disease and oral health, so that no other child has to suffer so long after noma.”
The Global Health Address (London)
The Power of Voice: Radical Advocacy & Elimination Milestones Delivered at the World NTD Day Forum (Co-hosted by the WHO, UAE Embassy UK, and Reaching the Last Mile) | January 30, 2024
Transcript
My name is Fidel Strub, I was born in Burkina Faso and I’ve survived a little-known disease called noma which was officially included in the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases of the World Health Organization just a month ago. Noma is a fast-progressing disease that we know how to prevent and to treat. Experts estimates it affects 140,000 people every year and up to 90% of them die in just a few weeks. I’m here today but it means 9 others didn’t make it and this is not acceptable.
My journey of living and surviving noma is a story of pain, perseverance, and illustrates the power of timely intervention. I simply survived thanks to an outreach of a Swiss organization that redirected my path from one of despair to one of hope. They had just trained a local doctor, Dr Zala, to treat noma and they were making announcements on the radio to bring all with a hole in their face to him. My grandmother heard this message, and this is ultimately what saved my life.
The scars on my face that I carry until today are physical but they are also a little window into the scars in my soul. They tell the story of 27 surgeries, relentless speech therapy, and a battle with depression that tested my willpower to its limits. These scars are a testament to my survival and my resilience, and they are a reflection of what so many endure when they face diseases like noma, river blindness, and other neglected tropical diseases.
"Reaching the Last Mile" stands as a beacon for all of us who believe in the right to health, dignity, and life. This organisation’s tireless efforts echo the very essence of my journey — that in the world's most remote corners, hope can be found, lives can be saved, and futures can be reclaimed.
We gather here to champion a cause that is greater than any one of us. Noma shouldn’t exist anymore as well as other NTDs. As "Reaching the Last Mile" has shown us, no mile is too far, no effort too great, no investment too small in the quest to bring healing and health to all.
In sharing my story, I hope to inspire not just empathy, but action. I hope to ignite that passion for justice and a commitment to reach every last mile, every last person, and every last child. Our journey is far from over, but together, we are forging a path towards a future where no one is left behind.
Thank you for being part of this mission, for listening, for caring, and most importantly, for acting. We, at Elysium, the first noma survivors association, that I’ve cofounded with Mulikat Okanlawon, are looking forward to working with you
Thank you.
From left to right:
Dr. Ibrahim Socé Fall, Former WHO Director of the Global Neglected Tropical Disease Program
Fidel Strub, Former Executive Director of the Elysium Noma Survivors Association
Tala Al Ramahi, Chief Strategy Officer of Reaching The Last Mile (RLM)
H.E Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK