The Federal Ministry of Health has joined partners and representatives from Niger Republic, Benin, Madagascar and others to launch the National Noma Control Policy document approved at the 2019 National Council on Health.
Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, on Monday, commemorated the third edition of the National Noma Day with the launch of the document.
The National Noma Day is held annually to raise awareness of the non-contagious oro-facial gangrenous disease that affects tissues of the face and causes deformities.
Noma, otherwise known as Cancrum Oris, is a fulminating, gangrenous infection of the soft tissue around the mouth, predominantly affecting younger persons with poor oral hygiene and predisposing them to serious illness.
The theme for 2019 is ‘Timely Recognition Averts Deformities.’
According to the Health Minister, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says Noma disease can be found anywhere in Nigeria, but more prevalent in the North-West region.