Reps task FG on urgent nationwide diphtheria vaccination in schools
Reps task FG on urgent nationwide diphtheria vaccination in schools
Reps task FG on urgent nationwide diphtheria vaccination in schools
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government (FG) to launch a diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools nationwide to prevent the spread of the deadly bacterial infection.
The resolution adopted during Wednesday’s plenary follows the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the House’s spokesman, Akin Rotimi.
The motion, which has the theme: The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos, expressed the need for the government’s urgent intervention after some students were hospitalized and a 12-year-old student died of the disease.
While presenting the motion, Rotimi expressed worries at the rising cases of diphtheria.
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He referred to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of January 26, 2025, which recorded 24,804 confirmed cases across 25 states since 2022 and 1,269 deaths in 18 states.
“The House is deeply concerned that this incident exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges,” Rotimi said.
He commended the Lagos State Government for swiftly isolating affected students, activating an Emergency Operations Committee, and launching a mass vaccination drive to tackle the outbreak.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the NPHCDA, and the NCDC to intensify school vaccination and public awareness campaigns to prevent further outbreaks.
The lawmakers also mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct an urgent review of health infrastructure in unity colleges and establish a clear response framework for infectious disease outbreaks.
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