C’ttee initiates campaign on oral health

The National Committee on Dental Health says it has embarked on massive enlightenment campaign to educate Nigerians on the importance of oral health.

The Chairman, NMA National Committee on Dental Health, Dr Clement Onwube, said this while addressing a press conference in Jalingo on Saturday as part activities marking the 2016 World Oral Health Day.

According to Onwube, mouth diseases are among the most common chronic diseases worldwide, with more than 90 per cent of the population at risk.

He also said records from the World Dental Federation had shown that oral diseases affect more than 3.9 billion people worldwide while between 60 per cent and 90 per cent of children have tooth decay.

Untreated tooth decay, he said, was the most prevalent condition among 291 diseases studied in the global burden of disease study.

` Since the treatment of oral diseases has remained extremely costly, greater awareness on prevention can have a positive impact on the economic burden, ‘’ he said.

While expressing appreciation to the Taraba Government for its support in marking the Day in Jalingo, Onwube called on other stakeholders to help in sponsoring free oral health treatment for the indigent.