A leading noma expert wants oral healthcare moved into Nigerian communities. He says trained dental auxiliaries at the local level could catch the disease before it destroys a child’s face.
A Call From Abuja
Dr Seidu Bello made the appeal at the 6th International Association for Dental Research Conference in Abuja. He is the CEO of the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation. He also heads the Noma Practitioners Association of Nigeria.
Bello wants oral health built into primary healthcare. He also wants working community dental clinics in every local government area. His proposal is for local governments to hire dental auxiliaries to run them.
No Specialist in Every Village
Nigeria cannot wait for a specialist dentist in every community, Bello said. Other trained staff can do the first-line work. They include dental therapists, dental surgery assistants and dental nurses.
Their job would be simple but vital:
- Spot oral problems early.
- Teach families about oral health.
- Offer basic preventive care.
- Send serious cases to higher-level facilities.
Experts say the country cannot fight noma through tertiary hospitals and specialists alone.
What Is Noma?
Noma is also called cancrum oris. It is a fast-moving disease that destroys tissue in the mouth and face. Young children are most at risk, especially those living in extreme poverty.
Several factors feed it. They include malnutrition, infection, poor oral hygiene, unsafe sanitation and delayed access to care. Because of this, the disease has long been linked to poverty.
It can also move quickly. A mouth infection may turn into widespread damage to facial tissue.
A Gap in Primary Care
The problem, experts say, is that many cases go unnoticed until it is too late. Early action could stop the damage. Yet the primary healthcare system often lacks anyone placed to act.
Bello says noma is not only a surgical problem. He calls it a public health problem. In his view, the fight must begin in communities and at primary healthcare level.
Life After Survival
The harm does not end when the infection clears. Survivors may live with severe facial deformity. Some struggle to eat, speak or breathe. Others have trismus, which limits mouth opening. Many also face trauma and stigma.
For children who survive, these effects can last for life. Still, experts stress that much of this suffering is preventable when the disease is recognised early.
