CMD task Nigerians on malnutrition, poor hygiene
NAN-HG-3
Diseases
By Muhammad Nasir Bello
Sokoto, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Chief Medical Director (CMD), NOMA Hospital, Sokoto, Dr Bello Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to avoid malnutrition, poor personal hygiene and playing with animals to improve their health.
Ahmed gave the task on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.
He said this would prevent them from contacting Cancrum Oris disease, popularly known as NOMA, which had remained a public health concern especially in rural areas.
Ahmed said: “The disease is an infection of mouth or genitals as the case may be which affects the oral cavity, spread and eat away the human face notably the nose, cheek and bones.
“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), without any form of treatment, about 90 per cent of children affected by the disease die.
“NOMA is also described NOMA as a dangerous lesion that affects several young children living in extreme poverty mostly in Africa and Asian communities.”
While commending the Sokoto State Government for providing free treatment for the patients, he noted that the gesture was extended to both indigenes and non-indigenes of the state.
The CMD said: “Because of the stigma attached to the condition of the disease, sometimes the Outreach Department of the Hospital travel to various places to encourage those with the condition to come for treatment.’’ (NAN)
MNB/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola