Oral Health
Oral diseases encompass a range of diseases and conditions, notably dental caries, periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancer, orofacial trauma, oral manifestations of HIV infection, birth defects, and noma in the WHO African Region. While largely preventable, oral diseases are the most common diseases globally and regionally, affecting an estimated 485 million people (41.6 %) in the WHO African Region in 2021.
Oral diseases disproportionately affect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. People of low socioeconomic status carry a higher burden of oral diseases, and this association remains across the life course, from early childhood to older age, regardless of countries' overall income level.
Access to oral health services is uneven within and among countries. The availability of oral health services is not aligned with the needs of the population. Those with the greatest need often have the least access to services.
Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors with the leading noncommunicable diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental disorders). These risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets high in free sugars. There is a proven relationship between oral and general health. It is reported, for example, that diabetes is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis. Moreover, there is a causal link between high consumption of sugars and diabetes, obesity and dental caries.
Like overall health, the social and commercial determinants of health influence oral health outcomes. The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. The commercial determinants of health comprise the private sector activities that affect people’s health positively or negatively.
When oral health is compromised by disease or injury, general health is also affected. The pain and discomfort associated with oral diseases make concentrating difficult, cause people to miss school or work, and can lead to social isolation. Oral diseases impose a severe social and economic burden on individuals and families by increasing household expenditures and seriously affecting people’s quality of life and well-being.
The WHO Regional Office for Africa has led the promotion of oral health as well as the prevention and control of oral diseases in the WHO African Region by providing strategic direction, such as developing Regional framework for accelerating implementation of the Global oral health action plan: addressing oral diseases as part of noncommunicable diseases towards universal health coverage and health for all by 2030.
To advance the implementation of these ambitious strategies, in collaboration with partners, the WHO Regional Office for Africa supports Member States by:
- advocating for increased political and financial commitment at the highest levels to address oral health as part of NCDs, primary health care (PHC), and UHC
- providing holistic guidance, tools, and standards to Member States in their efforts to develop and implement national oral health policy documents for the prevention and control of oral diseases as part of NCDs, PHC, and UHC
- supporting the inclusion of oral health services in essential health packages as part of the UHC benefit package and including oral health medicines/consumables in the essential medicines list
- mobilizing resources to support countries in developing and implementing national oral health policy documents
- developing a priority oral health research agenda and supporting operational research to generate evidence on the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of population-wide measures and their public health impact
- supporting the development and implementation of an efficient oral health workforce model within the overall national workforce strategy
- building the capacity of oral health focal points in ministries of health and other professionals to accelerate the oral health agenda at the country level
- monitoring disease burden, risk factors, health service use, and other health trends related to oral health.
Noma, a necrotizing noncommunicable disease starting in the mouth, is estimated to be fatal for 90% of affected children in poor communities, mostly in Africa, but it has also been reported in other regions such as South-East Asia.
In the absence of reliable epidemiological data, the WHO noma estimates from 1998 remain the most widely cited, with prevalence of 770 000 cases and incidence of 140 000 new cases every year. Without health care management, mortality was estimated at 70–90%.
The WHO Regional Office for Africa established the Regional Noma Control Programme in 2001. As part of the programme, the WHO Regional Office for Africa has supported 11 noma-priority countries to develop, implement and monitor national noma control activities, which have been financially supported since 2013 by the German NGO, Hilfsaktion Noma e.V. These national programmes focus on strengthening and developing the capacities of health workers, social actors and communities to prevent, promptly detect and manage cases of noma. Improved awareness of the disease among populations helps to remove stigma and enhances the reintegration of noma survivors and their families into society. Integration of noma into existing health surveillance systems improves data availability and accessibility and strengthens the leadership of ministries of health through improved inter- and multisectoral collaboration.
For noma priority countries, the quarterly reporting platform can be accessed through this link: DHIS 2 (sidhis2.org)
Publications
2024
2023
- Global oral health status report: towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030: regional summary of the African Region
- Nairobi declaration on evidence to policy: Accelerating the implementation of the regional and global strategies on oral health in the WHO African region
2022
- Progress report on the regional oral health strategy 2016–2025: addressing oral diseases as part of noncommunicable diseases: information document
- Mid-term progress report on the implementation of the regional oral health strategy 2016 –2025: Addressing oral diseases as part of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO African Region
2021
2020
- A step-step guide to develop national action plans for noma prevention and control in priority countries
- Intercountry workshop on the Regional Noma Control Programme, Abuja, Nigeria, 20-22 November 2019
- Regional Consultation Meeting on the Global Oral Health Report, 20-22 November 2019, Abuja, Nigeria
2019
- Capacity Building Workshop to Develop the National Roadmap for Implementation of the Regional Oral Health Strategy in the African Region: Meeting Report
- Evaluation of the WHO Africa Regional Programme on Noma Control (2013 - 2017)
2017
- Information brochure for early detection and management of noma
- Poster for early detection and management of noma
2016
- Promoting oral health in Africa: prevention and control of oral diseases and noma as part of essential noncommunicable disease interventions
- Regional oral health strategy 2016–2025: addressing oral diseases as part of noncommunicable diseases: report of the Secretariat
- Resolution: Regional Oral Health Strategy 2016-2025: Addressing Oral Diseases as Part of NCDs (Document AFR/RC66/5)
2015
- Evaluation du programme de fluoration du sel à Madagascar - Phase 1
- Evaluation du programme de fluoration du sel à Madagascar - Phase 2
2008
2005
1998
Other Materials
- How Ada saved her younger brother’s life from noma (2025)
- Tackling Noma: A Call for People-Centred Public Health Action (2025)
- Ethiopia spreading awareness of noma among communities (2025)
- No health without oral health (2024)
- OpenWHO: Noma: training of health workers at national and district levels on skin-NTDs (2022)
- OpenWHO: Oral Health Training Course for Community Health Workers in Africa (2023)
- Opening remarks: Webinar, WHO African regional summary of the Global Oral Health Status Report (2023)
- Living with noma, a painful mouth disease (2022)
Publications
See all
MID-TERM PROGRESS REPORT on the implementation of the Regional oral health strategy 2016 –2025: Addressing oral diseases as part of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO African Region
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines oral health as the state of the mouth, teeth and orofacial structures that enables individuals to perform essential functions, such as eating, breathing and speaking, and encompasses psychosocial dimensions, such as self-confidence, well-being and the ability to socialize and work without pain, discomfort and embarrassment.
