The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on all stakeholders to ensure the protection of displaced children and women sheltering in Gombe camp from abuse and being trafficked.

Dr Joseph Wanshe, the Gombe State Coordinator of the commission, made the appeal in an interview in Gombe on Thursday in Gombe.

Following the attack by bandits on Gwana, Digare, Mansur, and Yalo villages of Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, over 7,000 persons were displaced and were now sheltering in Kashere town in Gombe State.

“Nearly 4,000 of the number are children, representing about 57 per cent of the total displaced persons at the camp.

“Therefore, collective action is necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in the camp,” the coordinator said.

Wanshe said children were most vulnerable and were exposed to the risk of rights violation, trafficking, sexual abuse, lack of access to education, and molestation.

He stressed the need for stakeholders to work together to prevent the violation of the rights of children and women, while ensuring their welfare and dignity were prioritised.

“These children are vulnerable to abuse, trafficking, violence, and malnutrition, based on the report we have gathered when we visited.

“The women and children are faced with the risk of sexual abuse, child molestation, forced labour, poor sanitation, which exposes them to infectious diseases, poor medical facilities, and poor feeding, which exposes them to malnutrition,” he said.

According to him, there is a need to increase facilities, especially toilets, to curb open defecation and prevent disease outbreaks, which could affect children’s health adversely.

“Also, women need separate facilities for their privacy, especially when bathing and sleeping, and when some of these are put in place, they would reduce their vulnerability to abuse.

“We observed that the vulnerability of children to abuse of any kind is very high, and that’s why there is a need to work collectively to tackle the nutritional crisis and epidemic risk,” he said.

Wanshe said his commission had been engaging critical stakeholders and strictly monitoring events at the camp to ensure the protection of the rights of all displaced persons, particularly children and women.

He urged residents at the camp and members of the host community to always report human rights violations, adding that such reporting was necessary in the fight against sexual abuse and other vices against children.

The coordinator commended the governments of Gombe and Bauchi States for their constant support, which he said was timely.

“To UNICEF, thank you for carrying out lots of health, education, and hygiene-focused interventions towards protecting the welfare and well-being of children in the camp,” he added.

The Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has clarified its mandate on public and environmental health regulations in the nation’s capital.

The clarification is contained in a statement obtained from Idris Suleiman, a legal officer of the FCTA attached to the Public Health Department.

Idris said the clarification became necessary following recent concerns over compliance with public and environmental health regulations by some stakeholders.

Recall that members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), FCT chapter, on March 18 staged a protest at the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, alleging multiple taxation.

The association accused the FCTA Public Health Department and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of imposing overlapping charges on private schools.

NAPPS, through its lawyer, Alexander Ogboo, had called on both authorities to harmonise their roles and clarify which agency was responsible for collecting such levies.

Responding, Idris stated that the Public Health Department of the FCTA is statutorily mandated to oversee and implement public and environmental health services across the FCT.

He explained that, in line with this responsibility, demand notices were issued to regulated premises, including private schools.

These notices were to facilitate services such as premises inspection, certification of fitness for use or continued use, as well as public health pest control and disinfection.

“It has come to our attention that some schools operating under the platform of NAPPS, AMAC chapter, have declined to comply with these notices.

“Their position, as conveyed by a representative, indicates a preference to engage solely with AMAC authorities on matters relating to public health services.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a subsisting judgment of the FCT High Court has affirmed that area councils, including AMAC, do not possess the legal authority to carry out key public and environmental health functions.

“Such functions include premises inspection, certification for habitation, and monitoring of continued use of facilities.

“These responsibilities fall squarely within the mandate of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat,” he said.

Idris added that the department had made several efforts to engage NAPPS leadership, including convening meetings to address the legal and public health implications of the matter.

He, however, noted that follow-up meetings scheduled by the department were not honoured, in spite of initial assurances from the association.

He emphasised that the issue was not one of multiple taxation but compliance with public health regulations aimed at safeguarding residents, especially school children.

According to him, non-compliance undermines disease prevention efforts and poses risks of infectious disease outbreaks within the FCT.

Idris advised private school proprietors and operators of regulated premises to comply with directives and demand notices issued by the secretariat.

He added that the FCTA remained committed to dialogue, collaboration, and enforcement of standards to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

He warned that the administration would not hesitate to take necessary legal and administrative actions to ensure compliance with its statutory mandate.

Some dental Public Health Specialists have debunked a common myth that teething causes diarrhea in infants.

They made this known in separate interviews in Ibadan, in commemoration of World Oral Health Day (WOHD at the weekend.

WOHD is commemorated every March 20, with this year’s theme as “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life”.

They noted stooling in teething babies was likely due to crawling on dirty surfaces and putting objects in their mouth.

According to them, crawling on dirty surfaces and putting their hands in their mouths could lead to tummy upsets, not really because of teething as many believe.

They also warned against using engine oil or battery fluid to cure dental issues, saying they could cause chemical burns and poisoning.

Dental Public Health Specialist at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Folake Lawal, said that teething might cause slight discomfort, restlessness, and mouth rubbing.

Lawal remarked that however, significant fever or severe symptoms required medical attention.

She urged parents to seek proper medical help for their infants’ dental issues.

Lawal expressed concern that the majority of Nigerians did not have adequate access to oral health care or the professionals needed.

She said the inadequate number of dental practitioners to population ratio was far less than the WHO recommendation.

“Nigerians face periodontal diseases, that is, infections of the structures surrounding and supporting the teeth like the gum and bone.

“In addition dental caries (hole in the tooth/teeth) is another common oral problem among Nigerians brought about by intake of sugary foods and beverages e.g. biscuits, soda, cakes, chocolates etc.

“These should be minimised as it can lead not only to tooth decay (dental caries) but other systemic issues like obesity, diabetes,” she said.

According to her, proper tooth brushing habits with fluoridated toothpaste and medium textured toothbrush twice daily will help maintain good oral health

She added that there should also be visits to the dentist every six months for routine checkup.

Lawal noted that bad oral health increased the development of oral infections which could affect ones quality of life.

She said ingestion of tobacco and other substance abuse could lead to developing cancers including cancers of the mouth, throat, lungs etc.

“Also poor oral hygiene in pregnancy can predispose to low birth weight in babies,” she said.

Dental Public Health Specialist at UCH, Ibadan, Dr Aderonke Dedeke, urged parents and individuals to make oral health a priority.

Dedeke stressed that using hard bristled toothbrushes could damage the gum and should be discouraged.

She warned that using blades to try to scrape off calculus (dirt) on the surfaces of the teeth should be avoided.

“Avoid waiting till there’s pain to visit the dentist. Eating healthy fruits and vegetables (a balanced diet) are essential,” she said.

Dedeke remarked that most dental clinics were in the urban areas and not enough to serve the populace.

She recommended that integration of oral health into the existing primary health care set up would be a step in the right direction.

“If there’s a dental facility in every PHC, it brings the much needed service closer to members of the community.

“Moreso, implementation of the National Oral Health Policy is long overdue.

“There’s need to strengthen the Primary Oral Health Care (POHC) system; outreaches play an important role in bringing oral health services and education to the doorsteps of underserved communities.

“They need a lot of resources including both human and financial.

“As one of the CSR of the community dentistry unit of the department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry (UI/UCH), outreaches are frequently held in and around Ibadan,” she said.

Similarly, Prof. Olushola Ibiyemi, Professor of Community Dentistry University of Ibadan, highlighted Nigeria’s poor oral health state, citing increasing dental caries, tooth wear lesions, gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral cancer cases.

Ibiyemi expressed concern that the burden of oral diseases was increasing due to sugary diets, poor oral habits and lack of access to oral healthcare.

He stressed that a diseased tooth could be restored while extraction was not the only treatment.

The Professor of Community Dentistry advised Nigerians to brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, rinse after sugary snacks, and visit dentists yearly.

He recommended chewing sticks with proper technique and emphasised community outreach for screening, diagnosis, and early treatment.

“Oral health impacts overall health – toothache affects eating, sleeping, and socialising; plaque can spread to vital organs, causing further problems.

“Individuals and groups should collaborate with oral healthcare providers in undertaking dental outreach programmes in their local communities.

“This will go a long way in promoting the oral health of inhabitants of their communities,” he said.

He said the current state of poor oral health of Nigerians could be improved through the application of proper oral health promotion initiatives by all stakeholders at primary, secondary and tertiary health care levels.

“These initiatives should involve health education on the prevention and treatment of common oral health diseases.

“It should also involve provision of basic oral health care at primary health care level, development of oral health policies and provision of an enabling environment that is promotive of oral health,” Ibiyemi said.