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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The House of Representatives has taken decisive action to address the alarming resurgence of Diphtheria across the nation, passing a resolution on Wednesday mandating critical interventions to contain the deadly bacterial infection.
Prompted by the escalating number of cases and fatalities, particularly among children, the motion calls for immediate and comprehensive action from federal health agencies.
Hon. Laori Kwamoti (PDP, Adawawa), the sponsor of the motion drew attention to the devastating statistics, highlighting the return of Diphtheria, a disease that first caused significant concern in 2011. The highly contagious nature of the infection, affecting the nose, throat, skin, and potentially leading to severe heart complications, poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s already burdened public health infrastructure.
The House emphasized the rapid transmission of the disease through respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, and in overcrowded, unsanitary environments, making vulnerable populations in densely populated areas particularly susceptible.
The resolution underscores the reality that low vaccination rates across Africa are a major contributing factor to the prevalence of Diphtheria, a sharp contrast to regions with high immunization coverage where the disease is largely eradicated.
“While some African nations have successfully managed outbreaks through proactive measures, Nigeria’s current situation, with thousands of reported cases and a devastating death toll of 1,279, predominantly among children aged 1-14, paints a concerning picture. Alarmingly, the report revealed that a mere 19.7% of those infected had received full vaccination,” the House noted in its resolution.
Driven by the urgency to prevent further loss of life and contain the spread, the House resolved to implement stringent measures, including the enforcement of a nationwide mandatory immunization, testing, and treatment protocol.
As part of its resolutions, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Health Care Development Agency to enforce mandatory Diphtheria immunization, testing, and treatment across all healthcare facilities in Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas. This directive aims to ensure widespread access to crucial preventive and curative services.
Recognizing the importance of public education in disease control, the House also tasked the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation with launching nationwide sensitization campaigns. These campaigns will focus on educating Nigerians about the dangers, symptoms, and transmission methods of Diphtheria, empowering communities to take preventive measures and seek timely medical intervention.
Furthermore, the lawmakers called for a comprehensive assessment of healthcare capacity to ensure the effectiveness of the response. The House Committees on Health and Health Institutions have been mandated to assess the level of compliance and evaluate the capacity of health institutions to effectively manage the Diphtheria outbreak. The committee is expected to present its findings within four weeks, paving the way for further legislative action if needed.