Janet Ogundepo
The President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Tope Adeyemi, has advocated the re-classification, increased range of services, and pricing of oral health services in the National Health Insurance Authority for better oral health coverage amid the present economic realities.
According to the NHIA, enrollees are entitled to “preventive dental care and pain relief including consultation, dental health education, amalgam filling, and simple extraction.”
Adeyemi further stated that the association was involved in the drafting of policies to ensure the safe use and phase-out of dental products containing mercury as well as the utilisation of sugar-sweetened beverages tax for oral health.
The NDA president said this at the 57th Biennial General Meeting and Scientific Conference held recently in Enugu with the theme, “Enhancing dental education and practice in Nigeria: The roles of tele-dentistry and artificial intelligence.”
Adeyemi noted, “The Association is in active advocacy for the re-classification, increased range of services and pricing of oral health services in the National Health Insurance Authority for better oral health coverage in the present economic realities.
“NDA is involved in the policy direction concerning the safe use of mercury-containing dental products and their coordinated phase-down and phase-out; utilisation of sugar-sweetened beverages tax for oral health, appropriate use of salt and building sustainable associations through networking.”
According to the World Health Organisation, exposure to mercury, even in small amounts, may have serious effects on the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
It adds that pregnant women who use products containing mercury can impact the development of their child both in the womb and early in life.
The WHO considers mercury as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern.
The dentist, who is currently the outgoing president of the NDA following the election of new executives at the conference, further stated that the use of technology in dental practice would harness the capacities of highly skilled professionals including those in the diaspora to improve dental manpower training and capacity.
He added that adopting technology would lead to increased provision of essential healthcare services.
He noted that the association was deeply involved in the finalisation of the revised National Oral Health Policy and formulation of the National NOMA Control Policy and Strategic Plan, which were launched this year.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that the National NOMA Control Policy and Strategic Action Plan for Nigeria (2024-2026) and the National Oral Health Policy (2024-2029) were launched in Abuja by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate.
The National Oral Health Policy, according to the Federal Ministry of Health, is “intended to achieve optimal oral health for at least 50 per cent of Nigerians through sustainable awareness creation, early detection and prompt treatment of oral diseases using evidence-based interventions, strategic research, workforce development and coordination of oral health activities including institutionalisation of modern dental practices.”
The policy, Pate noted, would ensure that Nigerians had access to healthcare services, including oral health.
Continuing, Adeyemi noted that the NDA was also actively involved in developing policies for oral health promotion, especially advocating the inclusion of Noma into the WHO’s list of Neglected Tropical diseases.
The dentist praised states that have set up the Directorate/Department of Dental Services and called on other states to emulate the same for the benefit of the populace with respect to the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy.
“All hands must be on deck for advocacy to ensure that oral health is fully integrated into the primary health centres to reduce the burden of oral diseases.
“While wishing us fruitful deliberations, I urge us to constantly evaluate the issues affecting our profession with the aim of proffering solutions and improving the image of Dentistry.
“The NDA reminds us all to promote oral health and adopt positive lifestyles including making one’s health a top priority,” he said.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of NDA in Enugu State and the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Nneka Onyejaka, said the profession was embracing technology for education and patient care.
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