The Federal Government has called on state governments and development partners to mobilise ₦70 billion over the next five years to eliminate noma and improve access to oral healthcare across Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the appeal in Abuja during the 2026 Oral Health Week, National Noma Day and Scientific Conference.

He said the proposed funding would support the implementation of the National Oral Health Strategic Plan covering 2026 to 2030, with emphasis on preventive care, early diagnosis and expanded access to dental services, particularly for children and vulnerable populations.

Salako described noma as a rapidly progressing and potentially fatal disease that destroys tissues of the mouth and face, stressing that early detection, proper nutrition and improved oral hygiene could help prevent the condition.

He expressed concern that more than 80 per cent of Nigerians had never visited a dentist, while the country’s dentist-to-population ratio remained at approximately one to 38,000.

The minister said the Federal Government was strengthening community-based interventions, training frontline health workers and expanding oral health programmes in schools as part of efforts to address the situation.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Health pledged legislative and financial support for the initiative, including efforts to strengthen primary healthcare facilities and promote routine oral health screening.

Also, Médecins Sans Frontières disclosed that its partnership with the Federal Government had facilitated more than 1,759 reconstructive surgeries for 1,174 noma patients since 2014.

The World Health Organisation called for improved disease surveillance, early detection and the integration of noma prevention into routine primary healthcare services.

Noma is a severe, non-contagious disease that destroys the tissues of the mouth and face, predominantly affecting malnourished children between the ages of two and six.

The Federal Government says the proposed investment will strengthen prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services while improving access to essential oral healthcare across the country.