The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening oral healthcare and tackling noma, as the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare pushes for full integration of oral health services into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.
Speaking during the commemoration of the 2025 National Oral Health Week and Noma Awareness Day in Abuja, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said Primary Health Centres will now provide oral hygiene education, counselling, essential diagnostics, fluoride treatment, restorative services and referrals.
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He noted that the ongoing reorganisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund would expand access to oral healthcare, especially for vulnerable groups. Salako described oral health as essential to wellbeing and raised concern over preventable oral diseases that continue to affect millions of Nigerians, especially children and the elderly.
He also highlighted the severe impact of noma, a rapidly progressing disease that predominantly affects malnourished children in poor communities.
To address this, the government plans to upgrade dental facilities, employ more dental professionals and train frontline health workers to identify and refer cases of noma, cleft lip and cleft palate for free treatment. Salako also referenced the Noma Centre in Abuja and the Noma Children’s Hospital in Sokoto as key interventions offering comprehensive care at no cost.
Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom recalled Nigeria’s role in securing WHO recognition of noma as a neglected tropical disease, helping mobilise global support. Development partners including NANI, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Nigeria Dental Association reaffirmed their commitment to awareness, reconstructive surgeries, capacity-building and prevention.
Stakeholders pledged renewed collaboration to eliminate noma and ensure equitable oral healthcare for all Nigerians.
