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.
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, commemorated the third edition of the National Noma Day with launch of the document.
The National Noma Day is held annually to raise awareness on the non-contagious disease that affects tissues of the face and cause deformities.
Nigeria marked the day on November 20th since 2017, as measure adopted to eliminate the disease.
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.
Ehanire said that the ministry worked in collaboration with the World Health Organisation WHO and other stakeholders to develop the National Noma Policy Document and the Triennial Noma Control Action Plan 2019 to 2021.
