To improve oral health of Nigerians, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to promotion of Oral Health Service Delivery in Nigeria.
The Minister who was represented by the Director, Hospital Services, Dr. Wapada Balami stated this during the 6th Edition of the National Oral Health Week, in Abuja.
Adewole informed that the ministry had supplied 26 Dental chairs to Federal Medical Centres and their outstations across the six Geopolitical Zones of the country, adding that the aim was to strengthen oral health service delivery in Nigeria.
He noted that six Orthopatomogram machines have been upgraded in the six dental schools in the six Geopolitical zones to facilitate the development of human resource for Oral health.
He further said that the FMOH signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the 2016 Annual National Oral Health Week to reach out to 10 million Nigerian Schools.
He also said that in the last 12 Months, the Ministry had successfully reached out to over 4000 schools and 2 million school Children in Lagos, Abia, Rivers, FCT and Delta States.
Prof. Adewole stressed that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency would conduct an oral health survey to determine the number of PHCs equipped with oral health facilities and their personnel, nationwide.
The minister stated that the ministry was collaborating with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Development Partners such as Unilever, WHO, Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders), University of Maryland Biltmore and other Non- Governmental Agencies to improve the oral health of Nigerians.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, FMOH, Mr. Clement Uwaifo, represented by the Director, Public Health, Dr. Evelyn Ngige, said that the National Oral Health Policy targeted the integration of Oral Health into Primary Healthcare.
He also said that there was need for oral care products nanufacturers to address the common risk factors to oral diseases such as malnutrition, poor oral hygiene, smoking, refined sugars and also provide the basic package of oral care in primary healthcare centres across the country.
Angela Onwuzoo
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