The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, ha reiterated restated the commitment of the federal government to eradicate NOMA disease affecting children from two to five years.
NOMA is a necrotizing disease that destroys the mouth and the face which usually starts as a lesion (a sore) of the gums, inside the mouth.
Pate stated this Wednesday at the commissioning of a new Noma treatment centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the minister, the Federal Government has not rested on its oars, until this disease is totally eliminated from the country
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Daju Kachillom, said numbers of actions had been taken by Nigerian government to control the disease.
According to him, observing the ‘Noma’ day is a veritable platform government uses to raise awareness about the disease.
He added that the awareness would help in active identification and treatment of those already affected, map and collaboration with implementing partners to strengthen control.
” Noma is known to affect vulnerable populations living in poverty and in remote areas of the country who does not have necessary amenities of life.
” There are plagued with conditions that lower the victims immunity, leading to severe morbidity and mortality in the populations.
” Most cases of Noma occur in children between age two to five years, Other risk factors include chronic or acute malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, as well as poor oral hygiene.
“if left untreated, Noma is associated with 90 per cent mortality rate within weeks. It survivors are confronted with societal stigmatization, discrimination and social isolation,” he said .
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, called on Nigerians to support the agency on the enlightenment advocacy to address the risk factors of Noma disease.
Issa-Onilu, who was presented by the Director, Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilization, Mrs.Theresa Maduekwe, said: “Noma disease is a disease that destroys the face, soft tissues of the mouth, and the face actually affects mostly the children that malnutrie.
“Also it is also a problem of hygiene as long as we don’t clean the mouth in the morning after eating all sorts of things, including taking soda we drink and food we eat.”
Also speaking, the World Health Organization Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi, commended Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to combating Noma.
She acknowledged the Minister’s leadership and Nigeria’s plea to include Noma in the Neglected Tropical Diseases list.
Dr. Kazadi, who was presented by Dr Mary Dewan, said: “Noma affects the poor and the most vulnerable and this most affected population delay in presentation and when they present to the health facilities, cannot afford treatment. A huge number then presents with stage 3 or 4 diseases requiring resuscitation, several surgeries, and rehabilitation.”
WHO, reiterated its commitment to assisting Nigeria in preventing and controlling Noma, emphasizing ongoing efforts to include Noma in the Neglected Tropical Diseases list for increased global attention.
