By Joyce Onuora, Abakaliki
Following efforts to eradicate Noma fatal disease affecting Nigerian children in the country, the federal Ministry Of Health, Social Welfare in collaboration with Noma Aid Nigeria Initiative (NANI), has flagged- off five days training on early detection, treatments and referral of NOMA disease .
Therefore the agency have promised to give free medical treatments to any Patient identified having the Noma ailments in Ebonyi State
The training which was held at Ryan Hotel, Onwe Road Abakaliki capital city of Ebonyi State On Tuesday, was for the National Training of Trainers (Social Actors) on Noma Control
According to the Noma Aid Nigeria Initiative, Noma is a non-contagious infectious disease, it is not transmitted from one person to another and not caused by witchcraft or a curse on parents
The Organization added that the disease spread among children from impoverished families who have limited access to dental care , suffer low immunity due to malnutrition
Meanwhile, it was discovered that persons at risk mostly children aged 2 to 6 years or more, who living in conditions of malnutrition and extreme poverty, however, the signs and symptoms at the beginning of the disease is mouth odour swollen gums that bleed spontaneously or when touched, fetid breath, excessive salivation sore and among others
Dr. Mustapher Abubarka, Federal Ministry Of Health as a Dentist disclosed the factors causes by Noma, that these factor ranging from malnutrition, inadequate access to health care facilities, lack of immunization, measles, malaria, which will progress to destroy soft tissue, and also lead to serious disfigured and which leads to serious plastic surgery and it’s very expensive.
According to him “Noma was discovered during the second world war, in Europe and they were able to cure the Noma, and probably handle it, because they have good health care delivery system, in terms of man power and resources, “it’s hardly to see Noma in Europe but mostly saw in Ashia, and some African, and in Nigeria we have more many cases, in the north, western part of the country , we have see Noma in one most part of the country”
According to Dr Hyacinth’s Ebiny, Director public health, noted that Flagging off Noma, it’s important program in the state, adding that Noma it’s a very bad disease that affecting children , from 2 to 8 years or more, “The disease do disfigured their face, when you see them and won’t believe their human beings, due to as a result of poverty, people leaving in a bad situation, under low economic,
“This disease, we feels it’s not in Eastern part of this country but it’s there , however, one Doctor from association Noma initiative from Nigeria, insisted we should come to southeast , that’s why we decided to come to Ebonyi State, and any patients identified with such ailments, will be treating free of charge and we have place in Abuja where we take the persons for the treatment and the patients will be provide transportation and everything until the person recovered and brought back.
Director Dentist Division, Federal Ministry of health Abuja, Dr. Gloria Uzor igwe enumerated that the main work of federal ministry of health to Carter for health to the whole nation, and federal government convene this training. according to her “Noma is part of health issues in government, because they make sure that the patients treated.
Therefore due to child malnutrition, federal government has open the department of nutrition, and how the country, States will be taken care like Ebonyi State
The essence of this program is for health workers identify this disease earliest stage and advised the child parents to add proteins, nutrition and prescribe medication to the patients, like antibiotics etc
She noted that federal ministry of health always engaged workers training and they do change health workers inorder to identify this Noma disease in child’s health
“Because of ignorance some health workers don’t know how to identify it, that’s reason we gathered all the primary heath worker from each one local government
“And many of the health workers we invited for the training said they don’t know about the Noma health challenges, when we ask them about the disease”
“Meanwhile federal government has place nutrition and how malnutrition will be taken care of, the oral hygienics will be properly manage, we want to eradicate the disease, this disease is so fast, and within two weeks it’s disfigured the face of the child.
Dr. Igwe noted that creating this awareness and increase the sensitization will help to solve the health problem, “added on the end of the program, on Saturday, we want to teach the traditionalists about Noma, Incase if they see such case to referres them to hospital for proper treatment, not to believe it’s witchcraft issues”
One of the Participants, Egbalada Chioma Princess From Ezza north, Community health extension worker, stated that the ongoing training, will help them as health workers to teach their clients and patients about what they learnt concern the Noma, adding that the training will help to educate patients on Oral health hygenic because if not care, it will affect them, “what course it malaria, measles, malnutrition etc so once educate them on what we learnt, it will prevent and reduce the rate of Noma
Elder Mathew chukwuma odono, expressed that the ongoing training, will help to him to create awareness, that before didn’t knw, Noma, is a serious health challenge
“But today, i noticed that Noma is serious health problem”
“I am going to create awareness to the communities, for being related with many groups, church, women groups, traditional groups, coming from NOA , am going to tell them on how to handle the matter to reduce the mortality rate.
