The House of Representatives has urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that the outbreak of diphtheria in the county is contained effectively. This Is one of the resolutions of a motion sponsored by Honourable Muktar Shagaya from Kwara State at plenary.
While leading the debate, the lawmaker expressed concern that all the 36 states and including the Federal Capital Territory have recorded a total of 557 cases, based on the recent reports released by the World Health Organisation.
Hon. Shagaya also noted that since the outbreak of the disease, about 75 deaths have been recorded in 21 affected states with the most recent death being that of a four-year old boy in the Federal Capital Territory.
Adopting the motion, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and NCDC to intensify its sensitization and enlightenment campaign to prevent and eradicate the scourge of diphtheria and other related diseases across the country
The House also urged the NCDC and other relevant authorities to reduce the fatality ratio in confirmed cases by mandating its Committees on Healthcare Services and Legislative Compliance to ensure total compliance.
