April 10, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the relevant stakeholders to roll out policies that would support oral health integration into primary healthcare facilities in the state.
The State Secretary of NMA, Dr Abubakar Kaka Sanda, disclosed this during a weekly one-hour programme (Atambayi Likita) with the theme: Affordable and Accessible Dental Care: Bridging the gap for our communities”, on Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, in Maiduguri.
According to him, he explained that the choice of the topic was to create awareness and attention of all relevant stakeholders to take decisive actions.
He underscored the importance of access to affordable and qualitative oral care, affordability of oral care and improving health equity amongst the populace.
“Currently, the provision of basic oral care is not a key component during the implementation of primary healthcare. Primary health care tends to serve as an easy route for people to access healthcare.
“Unfortunately, the challenge is in implementing policies of provision of oral care into primary healthcare.
“When this is done, it would go a long way in addressing key issues in access to oral care, ensuring affordability and upscaling health equity amongst people.”
Dr Sanda, while commending the state government in its efforts to improve access and affordability to healthcare, calls on all relevant stakeholders to ensure all citizens, irrespective of whatever background, should benefit from accessible and affordable oral care.
