FG targets wider access to oral healthcare, urges preventive habits

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to oral healthcare, setting a 2026 target of reaching at least three million Nigerians with oral health education and services.

This was highlighted in Abuja on Tuesday during the 2026 World Oral Health Day, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which brought together health advocates, students, teachers, development partners, and professional bodies such as the Nigerian Dental Association and Colgate.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, said oral health remains a critical but often neglected component of public health, with implications for productivity, education, and overall well-being.

He noted that oral diseases continue to affect children’s learning and adults’ productivity, describing a healthy mouth as essential to national development.

Salako, who was represented by the Director of Hospital Service at the Ministry, Dr Abisola Adegoke, said the government had taken steps to integrate oral health into primary healthcare services, expand access to affordable dental care, and promote preventive practices at the community level.

According to him, community health workers are being trained to identify and refer serious oral conditions such as noma and cleft lip and palate, while school-based and community outreach programmes are being deployed to promote oral hygiene.

He added that a revised national oral health policy has been introduced to guide prevention, treatment, and awareness efforts across the country.

The Minister said the government is also working with development partners and organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Noma Aids Nigeria Initiative, and Médecins Sans Frontières, to strengthen services and address neglected diseases.

He disclosed that a memorandum of understanding had been signed with Colgate to train community health extension workers on basic oral healthcare and expand education in schools and communities.

Salako commended the Nigerian Dental Association for its outreach programmes, which he said reached over 2.4 million Nigerians across more than 20 States and the Federal Capital Territory in the past year.

He said the target for 2026 is to reach at least three million Nigerians with oral health education and services.

The Minister stressed that improving oral health requires collective responsibility, urging parents, teachers, and healthcare providers to promote simple preventive measures such as regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste, reduced sugar intake, and routine dental visits.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, said the annual observance highlights the importance of oral health as part of overall well-being.

She noted that many oral diseases are preventable but often ignored until they become severe and costly to manage.

Represented, Kachollom urged Nigerians to adopt preventive habits and take shared responsibility for maintaining oral health, adding that early education is key to building lifelong healthy practices.

She commended teachers and parents for supporting children’s participation in the event, noting that young people play a critical role in promoting awareness within their communities.

She also acknowledged the contributions of partners, professional associations, and the private sector in supporting oral health initiatives, describing collaboration as essential to improving outcomes.

In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwa, emphasised the link between oral health and overall quality of life, noting that conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease are widespread but largely preventable.

Represented by the Head of Clinics, Dr Uchenna Ekwenube, the Permanent Secretary encouraged students to adopt good oral hygiene practices and act as advocates for healthy living within their schools and communities.

Highlights of the event included health talks, practical demonstrations on oral hygiene, and an oratorical contest involving eight secondary schools.

Army Day Secondary School, Abuja, emerged winner of the competition, receiving a cash prize of N100,000. 

Command Secondary School, Abuja, finished as first runner-up with N80,000, while the second runner-up received N50,000. 

Other participating schools received consolation prizes.