By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it is taking decisive steps to ensure that oral health becomes a fully integrated component of Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, with Primary Health Centres (PHCs) mandated to deliver oral hygiene education, counselling, diagnostics, fluoride treatment, restorative services and timely referrals.
The move is being strengthened through the ongoing reorganisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which government officials say will expand financing for oral healthcare, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations.
This was the central message of a keynote address delivered by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the 2025 National Oral Health Week, Noma Awareness Day and Scientific Workshop held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme “Ending Noma through Strengthening Intersectoral and Global Cooperation,” Salako described oral health as a critical pillar of overall wellbeing, citing the World Health Organization’s assertion that “there is no health without oral health.” He noted that millions of Nigerians—especially children and the elderly—continue to suffer from preventable diseases such as dental caries, periodontal disease and oral cancers, with profound consequences for dignity, productivity and quality of life.
Salako warned that the burden of noma—an aggressive gangrenous infection that primarily targets malnourished children living in extreme poverty—remains particularly heavy in Nigeria. He identified the North-West region as the country’s most vulnerable zone, attributing the high prevalence to poverty, poor sanitation, malnutrition, weak surveillance and late diagnosis.
To reverse the trend, the Minister announced plans to upgrade dental facilities nationwide, expand workforce recruitment and strengthen early detection at community level. He revealed that community health workers, PHC staff and traditional birth attendants are being trained to identify and refer cases of noma, cleft lip, cleft palate and other oral diseases for specialised, often free, treatment.
Salako also referenced the Federal Government’s investments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the Noma Centre in Abuja and the Noma Children’s Hospital in Sokoto, where affected children receive free surgery, rehabilitation and long-term care. He called for a “whole-of-society” approach, insisting that noma represents not only a medical challenge but “a societal inadequacy” linked to failures in nutrition, water and sanitation, housing, maternal and child health and social protection.
In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, mni, described noma as “one of the most devastating yet preventable diseases,” noting that the 2025 theme underscores the need for coordinated action across sectors such as nutrition, WASH, education and community development. She highlighted Nigeria’s leading role in securing WHO recognition of noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease in 2023—a milestone that has galvanised international attention and funding.
Chairman of the Noma Aid Nigeria Initiative (NANI), Mr Mathis Winkler, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to Nigeria’s efforts. He disclosed that over 200 survivors have been treated at the Abuja centre, many requiring complex reconstructive surgery. Paying tribute to his late mother, a long-time advocate against noma, he commended Nigeria for hosting the world’s only National Noma Day and pledged continued support for research, prevention and surgical missions.
Country representatives of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Frontier Medicine recalled more than a decade of partnership with the government, particularly at the Noma Hospital in Sokoto. They reported that over 1,600 reconstructive surgeries have been performed for more than 1,000 patients since 2014, with 99 surgeries conducted on 89 patients in 2025 alone. MSF has trained 28 surgeons and 14 anaesthetists as part of efforts to build sustainable local capacity.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Dental Association (NDA), Dr Elias Emedom, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to nationwide oral health promotion and early diagnosis. He highlighted Nigeria’s participation in global oral health forums, including the World Dental Conference in Shanghai, and called for full integration of the National Oral Health Policy into PHC services, as well as improved working conditions to curb brain drain in the sector.
The event drew government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and international agencies, all united in renewed determination to eliminate noma and strengthen oral health systems across the country.
As activities marking the week continue, stakeholders restated that no child in Nigeria should die from a disease that is entirely preventable. They pledged deeper collaboration, expanded awareness and improved service delivery to protect the health, dignity and future of every Nigerian.