Community participation key to tackling Noma

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has said that community participation was one of the most veritable strategies for addressing Noma disease in the country. Adewole stated this during a national conference on  Noma organized by Oral Health Advocacy Initiative, (OHAI)  in collaboration with Africa Initiative for Health Innovation, and Advocacy and Development (AIHIAD) in […]

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has said that community participation was one of the most veritable strategies for addressing Noma disease in the country.

Adewole stated this during a national conference on  Noma organized by Oral Health Advocacy Initiative, (OHAI)  in collaboration with Africa Initiative for Health Innovation, and Advocacy and Development (AIHIAD) in Abuja.

Represented by the Director, Department of Family Health of the ministry, Dr.  Adebimpe Adebiyi, he said community participation involves participation by individuals, communities and special groups in determining their health priorities.

He also said that cultivating partnerships has a critical role to play in achieving the eradication of Noma in Nigeria.

Executive Director, Oral Health Advocacy Initiative, (OHAI) Dr. Ver-or Ngutor, said the conference which had the theme , “Noma: A silent epidemic amongst vulnerable groups” was organised to create awareness on Noma disease and to advocate for its prioritisation as a public health  problem in the country.

“It is also aimed at recruiting resources for addressing Noma and other diseases of extreme poverty in Nigeria , to highlight the capacity gap in the management, care and support of Noma patients in the country, and  to kick-start the process of adopting Noma as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organisation,” he said.

Dr Ngutor said the disease affects the poorest of the poor, particularly in rural areas, adding that people usually go to traditional healers first instead of the hospital.

He said many people ignorantly attribute the disease to witchcraft or spirits, and die from its devastating effect before reaching the hospital.

According to him, the cost of treating one Noma patent is between two to three million , and done in stages,saying that most patients cannot afford to treat themselves.

He said that preventive measures is the best approach and includes good hygiene practices, and addressing malnutrition and poverty.