FG tasked on interventions for Noma disease

The Oral Health Advocacy Initiative (OHAI), a non-governmental organisation has called on the Federal Government to set up an effective intervention programme for tackling Noma disease in the country.

Noma (Cancrum oris) is a gangrene that develops in the mouth and rapidly spreads to other parts of the face. The disease is almost found exclusively in conditions of poverty, poor living conditions, poor hygiene and malnutrition and if not treated leads to death in 70-90 percent cases. Malnutrition is a major factor that pre-disposes people to the disease.

Executive Director of the organization, Dr Ver-or Ngutor, made the call weekend while briefing newsmen in commemoration of this year’s Noma Day.

He said: “The Federal Government should establish Noma control programme just as it has done for diseases such as Tuberculosis and Leprosy, and also station it at the grassroots as a step towards tackling the disease as well as generating data about persons infected.”

According to him, preliminary research done by OHAI has revealed that a large percentage of Nigerians were ignorant about the disease, thought it was caused by witchcraft and sought services of traditional healers, when affected by the disease.

Dr Ngutor explained that as a result of the knowledge gap, cases of Noma disease were first taken to spiritual centres and when people eventually visit hospitals, the disease would have reached an advanced stage.

The World Health Organization (WHO) set the 22nd day of May every year to unite efforts of all the bodies actively involved in the prevention and control of Noma with, an emphasis on developing synergies.