How it began

Elysium is the first organization of noma survivors founded by Mulikat Okanlawon and Fidel Strub, two of the very rare noma survivors, in November 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden.

We actively advocate for increased attention and support for noma. As part of our efforts, we’ve specifically pushed for the recognition of noma by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease.

Despite the disease being known since ancient times, knowledge about it and its detection still remain too limited. With up to 90% of those affected succumbing to the disease, the remaining 10% who survive face a considerable burden.

We chose the name "Elysium" because it represents the final resting place of heroes and the pure. We are committed to honoring the memory of those who did not survive noma, especially the children who endured unimaginable suffering. We hope that they will find peace and happiness in the Elysian Fields.

What we do

  • Raise awareness

    Raise awareness

  • Promote an holistic approach

    Promote an holistic approach

  • Support survivors

    Support survivors

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Who we are

Mulikat Okanlawon
President & Co-Founder

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Mulikat Okanlawon is a dedicated noma advocate and a noma survivor raising awareness at the global level. In 2022, she co-founded Elysium, the first noma survivors organisation, alongside Fidel Strub.  Residing in Sokoto, in the northwest of Nigeria, Mulikat works with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without borders (MSF), as hygiene officer.

Mulikat’s journey began when she survived noma as a child, seeking medical care, accompanied by her father in the only hospital in Nigeria specializing in noma treatment. The tissues of the left part of her face had been destroyed, affecting her mouth, cheek and eye. Mulikat underwent numerous  reconstructive surgeries in Sokoto and gradually accepted  what happened to her. During her medical journey, she learned Hausa language, got her first job at the Sokoto Noma Hospital and completed a degree in health record management.

In 2022, the World Health Organization recognized Mulikat’s impactful engagement, naming her one of the first seven people ‘Making a Difference on Health’ in Africa. Mulikat shares a powerful message of hope: There is ability in disability, and thanks to more awareness, noma can be eradicated.

Mulikat Okanlawon’s inspiring journey has been featured in the award-winning documentaries Restoring Dignity (52 min.), Surviving noma (4 min.30) as well as  in several major local and international publications.

Fidel Strub
Director & Co-Founder

Fidel Strub, born in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is a noma advocate and a noma survivor raising awareness at global level. In 2022, she co-founded Elysium, the first noma survivors organisation, alongside Mulikat Okanlawon. He is also a board member of Noma-Aid-Switzerland.

Fidel was affected by noma when he was about three years old and survived thanks to a radio campaign led by a Swiss organization called Sentinelles and calling all patients with a hole in their face to visit a doctor in Ouahigouya, in the north of Burkina Faso. Fidel was later sent to Geneva, Switzerland, in order to receive reconstructive surgery.

Fidel was adopted by Swiss doctors and has received over the years, as a child and teenager, a total of 27 operations. It took Fidel years and psychotherapeutic sessions to accept his appearance. Fidel learned watchmaking and completed an additional education in commerce. 

He is fighting alongside with Mulikat to get more attention to noma and oral health so no other child has to suffer the terrible consequences of noma. Fidel Strub’ story was published in several local and international publications like ‘The Guardian’ or ‘Schweizer Illustrierte’.

Claire Jeantet
Board Member

Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Claire Jeantet is passionate about creating content with meaning and depth. She co-founded in 2008 the French production company Inediz along with Fabrice Catérini. Focused on long-term visual work, she captures the daily lives of resilient people transformed by a key moment. Believing in the power of stories to change the world, she collaborates with media, international organizations and NGOs. Her main field of interest is social issues, with a focus on refugees, women’s rights and access to health care. 

Claire met with Mulikat Okanlawon in 2016 in Sokoto, Nigeria and Mulikat is featured in the two documentaries that Claire co-directed and produced about the journey of noma survivors, Restoring Dignity (52 min.) and Surviving Noma (4 min.30). Translated in ten languages, her films on noma have been screened in about 100 events in 28 countries. They have been selected in 26 festivals and won several awards.

After managing MSF noma campaign successfully, Claire is still very much involved in raising awareness on this preventable and treatable disease and advancing the advocacy agenda. In addition to her collaboration with Elysium’s co-founder, she is involved in the collaborative project ‘The Politics of Disease Framing: Surviving and Overcoming Neglect’ together with other researchers from the Center for Applied Human Rights at the University of York.