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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives has charged the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) to take measures to contain the outbreak of diphtheria, in the country, so as to reduce the number of fatalities across the country.
The House also charged Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC to intensify its sensitization and enlightenment campaign “to prevent and eradicate the scourge of diphtheria and other related diseases across the country. ”
This followed the adoption of a motion by Muktar Shagaya, at Thursday’s plenary, calling urgent action to contain the disease.
Shagaya, in his motion, noted that there have been “sporadic increase in the number of Diphtheria cases in Nigeria since the beginning of 2023 and about 21 out of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory have witnessed a total of 557 cases based on the recent reports of the World Health Organisation (WHO).”
The lawmaker added “that diphtheria is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease which spreads between people mainly by direct contact or through the air via respiratory droplets.”
According to him, since the outbreak of the disease, about 75 deaths have been recorded in 21 states, including the death of a four years old boy in the Federal Capital Territory ( FTC).
He expressed worry “that diphtheria cases are under-reported in Nigeria despite the threats it poses to public health, including respiratory complications, heart rhythm problems and other fatal outcomes in situations of late detection. ”
Consequently, Shagaya stated that it is imperative for the government to intensify efforts in sensitizing and educating the populace, especially those living in rural areas on the prevention, control and treatment of diphtheria.
