The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called on the Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHDA) to fight the spread of diphtheria in Nigeria.
The Senate also urged the federal government to increase funding for all institutions involved in the production and distribution of vaccines so as to effectively tackle the prevalence of communicable diseases in Nigeria.
It further directed relevant agencies to carry out a nationwide vaccination to curb the spread of diphtheria in the country.
The Senate’s resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung representing Kaduna South Senatorial district.
In his presentation, Senator Katung raised alarm over the spread of diphtheria in Kaduna which has resulted in several deaths in the state and its environs.
He noted that the airborne disease which can also be transmitted via fluid exchange has become a major health challenge that requires urgent government attention.
He said Kaduna State Government has confirmed that the death toll from the diphtheria outbreak in the state has risen to 17 with 68 suspected cases identified across the state as at Sunday, 23rd of July 2023.
He pointed out that a breakdown shows 10 people have reportedly died from the disease in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State; 3 children died in Makarfi Local Government Area, while seven others were hospitalized.
He also disclosed that diphtheria is a highly contagious, infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheria resulting in serious breathing and swallowing problems in infected people that may develop sores on the skin.
“The highly contagious nature of the disease means that without immediate and concerted efforts towards curbing it, the disease would spread at a devastating rate especially considering the communal and poor living conditions in most rural communities in Nigeria,” Senator Katung stressed.
In his contribution to the motion, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, representing Abia Central Senatorial district, decried the state of government hospitals in the country especially the National Hospital in Abuja.
He said Nigeria should stop fire-brigade approach to issues of health in the country while urging the Senate to suspend plenary one day and pay visit to the National Hospital to assess the level of decay and poor medical facilities.
After the debate on the motion, the Senate unanimously urged all relevant health agencies in the country to liaise with health ministries in Kaduna and other neighbouring states to intensify contact-tracing with a view to curbing the spread of diphtheria.
