The Federal Ministry of Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UNILEVER to re-introduce and ensure sustainability of the Schools Oral Health Programme which was launched in 2013 in Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the Signing of the MOU which was the high point of the commemoration of the 6th Edition of the National Oral Health Week held in Abuja today, The Minister of Health,Prof.Isaac Adewole said that the Federal Ministry of Health was also presently working with development partners to ensure sustainability of the schools oral health programme.
He disclosed that Colgate-Palmolive Nigeria was planning one of such global oral health initiative; Bright Smiles, Bright Future; which was targeted at the population of school children across the country between the ages 6 to 8 years old adding that the initiative was a project that had been successfully undertaken in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other 25 countries around the world and had made an immense difference to the oral hygiene of children,
He added that Unilever Nigeria Limited has also accepted to undertake this initiative in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health by providing facilities to Ten million school children across the country through the Pepsodent School Oral Health Initiative.
Prof.Adewole said that these school health programs were aimed at increasing the child’s responsibility for oral health and promote positive self esteem as well as to promote proper habits for oral hygiene and to encourage schools and families to play their role in their children’s oral health.
He said that as a priority area of the National Oral Health Policy, service delivery is targeted at providing minimum acceptable standards of care which would promote quality assurance, patient satisfaction and universal coverage to all citizens.
He pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Health had been working on the national Oral Health Programme which was geared towards integrating Oral health into primary health care via a rapid oral health intervention programmes with a focus on Noma(also known as CancrumOris).
He stressed that the rapid intervention programme on Noma was to be funded by development partners and other stakeholders with visits to affected states and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA),Dr.Mke Ogrima who was represented by the National Chairman, Dental Health Committee, Dr.Micheal Onwube congratulated the Federal Ministry of Health for championing the promotion of oral health programme in Nigeria adding that the NMA Committee on Dental Health was happy to identify with the programme and also assured of its supports.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Dental Association)NDA), Dr.Olabode Ijarogbe thanked the Minister for showing passion for oral health and for putting measures in place that helped to drive the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy to enhance oral health care delivery to the average Nigerians.
He noted that hitherto before this present government came into power, there had been a lot of issues with oral health policy implementation adding that presently Nigeria has began to see new improvements in oral health care delivery.
Boade Akinola
Director (Media & Public Relations)
For: Hon. Minister
