Stakeholders seek plan to phase down amalgam use in Nigeria

Apparently hurtling towards mercury-free alternatives, stakeholders in the sector have called for a National Action Plan (NAP) and goal setting for monitoring companies to ensure effective phase down of dental amalgam use in Nigeria.

The stakeholders’ position was encapsulated in a communiqué issued at the end of a recent Stakeholders’ forum on Phasing Down of Amalgam-The Alternatives in Nigeria held at Old Great hall, University of Lagos, Lagos.

In the forum, stakeholders recommended the need to discourage and stop amalgam use in children’s primary teeth by December 2017 as well as an immediate review and updating of dental schools training curriculum to emphasize mercury-free dentistry by mid-2017.

They also called on Government at all levels to initiate a coordinated multi-sectoral approach for an effective phase down of dental amalgam use in Nigeria as well as raising of awareness about dental mercury and promotion of Alternatives/Transition to alternatives.

Apart from that, the stakeholders called for the initiation of demonstration projects and application of best available technology and environmental practice in the management of dental amalgam and urgent need for NAFDAC to include phase-down programme in her awareness campaign which includes engaging the media in awareness creation on the health impacts of mercury in dental amalgam and creation of special fund for dental schools.

Speaking earlier at the forum, representative of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, who stood in for Dr Idris Goji  noted that though satisfactory alternatives to dental amalgam are available in Nigeria, people has continued to use mercury.

According to him, mercury emission and releases poses health and environmental concerns.

He called for a national road map in line with the national phase down plan, which would help to save lives.

In his remarks, Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Godwin Arotiba said, the phasing down of dental amalgam is an issue of global importance that requires an urgent national action.

According to him,  there is need for  a road map for dental amalgam phase down for Nigeria Dental institutions and  draft action plan for mercury-free dentistry implementation.

Also the representative of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Anthony Hotton noted that  mercury and its compounds are placed under restriction due to its health impact, hence, the need for a National Action Plan (NAP) and goal setting for monitoring companies.