By Adaeze Onuora, Abakaliki
In a bid 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 a five day training on early detection, treatments and referral of NOMA disease in Ebonyi.
Free medical treatments will be given to any patient identified by the agency, having the Noma ailments in Ebonyi State.
The training which was held at Ryan Hotel, Onwe Road Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 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 said that the disease spread among children from impoverished families who have limited access to dental care, or suffer low immunity due to malnutrition.
Meanwhile, it was discovered that persons at risk are mostly children aged 2 to 6 years or more, 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 among others.
Dr. Mustapha Abubakar from Federal Ministry Of Health and a Dentist disclosed that the factors caused by Noma ranges from malnutrition, inadequate access to health care facilities, lack of immunization, measles, malaria, which progresses to destroy soft tissue, which results in serious disfigure of the body and then plastic surgery which is very expensive.
According to Abubakar, “Noma was discovered during the Second World war in Europe, and they were able to cure and probably handle the Noma disease, due to availability of good health care delivery system, in terms of man power and resources".
Dr Hyacinth Ebenyi, Director of Public Health, while noting that flagging off Noma, is an important program in the state, said that Noma is a very bad disease that affects children, from 2 to 8 years or more. He reiterates that the disease disfigures their faces, such that they don't look like human beings, as a result of poverty.
“This disease, we feel 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 patient identified with such ailments, will be treated free of charge and we have place in Abuja where we take the persons for the treatment and the patients will be provided transportation and everything until the person recovers and then brought back.
The Director Dentist Division, Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, Dr. Gloria Uzor Igwe explained that the essence of the program is to guide health workers in identifying this disease at the earliest stage and advise the child's parent on proper nutrition, prescribe medication to the patients.
She said, "Because of ignorance some health workers don’t know how to identify it, that’s the reason we gathered all the primary health workers from each local government."
Dr. Igwe noted that creating this awareness and increase in sensitization will help to solve the health problem and as well handle such cases by referring the patient to hospital for proper treatment.
Among the participants, Egbalada Chioma Princess from Ezza north, a community Health extension worker and Mathew Chukwuma stated that the ongoing training, will help them as health workers to further educate their patients about what they learnt concerning Noma and its causes, adding that the training will help to teach patients on importance of Oral health hygiene to avoid been affected.
Elder Mathew chukwuma odono, also said that the ongoing training will equip him in creating awareness in communities, group, Church and traditional groups so as to reduce mortality rate.
