2024 National Oral Health/Noma Day: FG takes step in addressing risk factors associated with oral diseases
By Matthew Denis
The Federal Government has restated it’s commitment to improve oral health by addressing risk factors associated with oral diseases through an integrated primary health care approach.
This is contained in a signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director Information and Public Relations on Wednesday.
Dr Iziak Adekunle Salako Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare made this known during the commemoration of 2024 National Oral Health/Noma Day at the Reiz Continental Hotel Abuja. He was represented by Dr. Saludeen Jimoh mni, Director Hospital Services Department in the Ministry.
Clarifying the concern of Government to addressing oral diseases including Noma, the Honourable Minister explained that integrated primary health care approach is very crucial to improving oral health in the country.
He described Noma, as a non- contagious disease of poor oral hygiene and acute malnutrition which disproportionately affects children aged 2 to 6 years.
“It can rapidly eats away the soft and hard tissues of the face, often leaving the face of such individual with a poor cosmetic outcome and if left untreated resulting in death” the Minister added.
To this end, Dr Salako said Nigeria has played active role at regional and international level, alligning with World Bank Africa regional efforts to bridge the knowledge gap about Noma.
This collaboration , he affirmed, has improved early detection, diagnosis and management of cases at the primary care level.
“Nigeria joined this programme in 2016 and has been very active since then. A Noma treatment Centre has been established within the National Hospital Complex and with other existing centres in Sokoto State.
Nigeria is poised for the eradication of this highly preventable and treatable disease”, the Honourable Minister pointed out.
Speaking on sustained efforts by the government to eradicate Noma, Dr Salako highlighted the critical importance of the Technical Working Group( TWG) established by the Ministry in the listing of Noma among the Neglected Tropical Disease ( NTDs) by the WHO.
These efforts by the TWG; working with other 33 countries across the globe has brought more concerted attention of the global health authorities, NGOs, Philanthropists and funding partners to the debilitating disease, according to the Honourable Minister.
Focusing on early detection and timely treatment, strengthening workforce capacity and, shortages at the grassroots level, Dr Salako emphasized that the Ministry has initiated measures to address workforce shortages, including task sharing and upskilling in the primary healthcare centre to provide basic oral health care.
Furthermore he said “The Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative NHSRII of the present administration and the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to ensure universal health coverage for all Nigerians offers a veritable springboard to ensure that we eradicate Noma and frontally tackle all oral diseases in our country”.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom mni, represented by Dr. Azeez Aderemi Director Specialty Hospital Division; asserted: ” Currently in Nigeria, there are multifaceted public health actions to decrease the burden of Noma and other oral health diseases through educating communities about the causes, symptoms and prevention of Noma/ oral health diseases.
The Government is addressing malnutrition which is a key risk factor for Noma, through nutritional programs and food security initiatives of the Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Highlights of the occasion include several goodwill messages by the WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres MSF; presentations by the Director Noma Centre Abuja Dr. Charles Ononiwu and playlets by student Nurses to sensitize and create awareness on the debilitating oral disease.
The 2024 National Oral Health and Noma Day themed: “Listing Noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease: What Next?” was organized by the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.
