FG, N’Assembly target N70bn to end noma disease, boost oral healthcare

The Federal Government, led by Dr Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has announced plans to allocate N70bn over the next five years to eliminate noma disease and enhance oral healthcare access across Nigeria. The National Oral Health Strategic Plan (2026-2030) aims to integrate oral healthcare into primary care, improve early diagnosis and treatment, and boost access to dental services, especially for children and vulnerable groups.

The plan received legislative and financial backing from the National Assembly, which pledged support for its implementation.

During the 2026 Oral Health Week, National Noma Day and Scientific Conference in Abuja, Salako emphasized that the framework marks a shift from a primarily curative approach to preventive oral healthcare. The disease, noma, is a rapidly progressing and potentially fatal condition that destroys facial tissues, often affecting children living in poverty with malnutrition and limited healthcare access. Survivors frequently suffer severe facial disfigurement, disabilities, and social stigma.

The government is strengthening community-level interventions by training frontline health workers, volunteers, and traditional birth attendants to identify early symptoms and refer suspected cases for immediate treatment. Key components of the response include the Noma Children's Hospital in Sokoto and the national treatment facility in Abuja, which provide free reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support to affected children.

The National Assembly has also promised legislative and financial support, including increasing funding for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, to improve dental infrastructure, expand personnel, and strengthen school-based oral health programs.