The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to improving oral health in Nigeria, with a special focus on addressing risk factors for oral diseases, including the devastating condition known as Noma.
This renewed effort was highlighted during the 2024 National Oral Health and Noma Day, held in Abuja, where the Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, emphasized the need for an integrated primary healthcare approach to combat these health issues.
Dr. Salako, who was represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Saludeen Jimoh outlined the government’s strategy to improve early detection, diagnosis, and management of oral diseases, particularly in rural areas.
One of the most pressing concerns addressed at the event was Noma, a non-contagious disease caused by poor oral hygiene and acute malnutrition, which primarily affects children between the ages of 2 and 6.
Dr. Salako described Noma as a rapidly progressing disease that destroys soft and hard tissues in the face, leading to severe cosmetic deformities, and in extreme cases, death.
He warned that Noma continues to devastate vulnerable communities, stressing the importance of early intervention to prevent its life-threatening consequences.
To tackle this disease, Nigeria has been actively engaged in regional and international efforts since 2016, aligning with the World Bank’s Africa Regional program to bridge knowledge gaps.
The establishment of specialized Noma Treatment Centres, such as the one at the National Hospital in Abuja and another in Sokoto State, is a significant step toward combating this preventable and treatable disease.
In his address, Dr. Salako also lauded the work of the Technical Working Group (TWG), whose advocacy led to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recognition of Noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
This recognition has garnered global support, attracting attention from health authorities, NGOs, and philanthropists dedicated to combating Noma.
Recognizing the shortage of trained professionals in oral healthcare, Dr. Salako announced new initiatives aimed at addressing workforce gaps.
These include task-sharing and upskilling programs at primary healthcare centers to ensure basic oral care is accessible to all Nigerians.
The Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), launched under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is also contributing to advancing Universal Health Coverage, providing a strong framework to address oral diseases nationwide.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Daju Kachollom represented by Dr. Azeez Aderemi, emphasized the ongoing multifaceted public health actions aimed at reducing the burden of Noma.
These efforts include community education about the disease’s causes and prevention, as well as nutritional programs under the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving food security and reducing malnutrition.
The event featured various educational activities, including goodwill messages from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), presentations by experts like Dr. Charles Ononiwu of the Noma Centre in Abuja, and dramatizations by student nurses to raise awareness about oral health.
With the theme “Listing Noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease: What Next?”, the 2024 National Oral Health and Noma Day underscored the government’s determination to eradicate Noma and improve the oral health of all Nigerians.
