Senate has called on the Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHDA to halt the spread of diphtheria in Nigeria by immediately commencing the immunization of vulnerable Nigerians against the disease following the death of 20 people in Kaduna State.
The upper legislative chamber 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 the country.
It equally directed relevant agencies to carryout a nationwide vaccination to curb the spread of Diphtheria in the country.
The Senate’s resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung (PDP Kaduna South), who raised alarm over the spread of Diphtheria in Kaduna which has resulted to 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.
According to him, y 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, July 23, 2023.
Senator Katung noted that a breakdown shows 10 people have reportedly died from the disease in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, while three 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 rendering infected people struck with serious breathing and swallowing problems 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,” he stressed.
Contributing, Senator Darlington Nwokocha (PDP Abia Central) lamented the bad conditions state government hospitals in the country, including the National Hospital in Abuja, 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.
In his remarks, the Senate President Goodwill Akpabio, who thanked Katung for bringing the motion, noted that it would save lives and help the country from going into pandemic.
“This one has a preventable solution. Everyone should be up and doing so that this disease do not reach a pandemic level,” he added.
The Senate later unanimously urged all relevant health agencies to liaise with health ministries in Kaduna and other neighbouring states to intensify contact- tracing with a view to curbing diphtheria spread in the country.
