Halt Diphtheria Spread, Senate Tells Health Ministry, Disease Control Agency

•Bauchi confirms two deaths, outbreak in 6 LGAs

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Senate yesterday, passed a resolution, calling on the Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to put an end to further spread of Diphtheria in Nigeria.

The Upper Legislative Chamber also urged the federal government to increase funding of all institutions involved in the production and distribution of vaccines.

This it noted, was to effectively tackle the prevalence of communicable diseases in Nigeria.

The red chamber as part its resolution, directed relevant agencies to carry out a nationwide vaccination to curb the spread of Diphtheria in the country.

The Senate’s decision followed the consideration and adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial district.

Katung, raised alarm over the spread of Diphtheria in Kaduna State which had resulted to several deaths in the state and its environs.

He noted that the airborne disease which could also be transmitted via fluid exchange had become a major health challenge that requires urgent government attention.

He said Kaduna State Government hasdconfirmed 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 the 23rd of July 2023;

He noted that a breakdown showed 10 people had 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 hospitalised.

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.

He said, “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.”

In his contribution to the motion, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, representing Abia Central Senatorial district lamented the state of government control hospitals in the country especially the National Hospital in Abuja.

He said Nigeria should stop fire brigade approach to issue 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, Senate unanimously urged all relevant health agencies in the country to liase with health ministries in Kaduna and other neighboring states to intensify contact- tracing with a view to curbing Diphtheria spread.

Meanwhile, two persons have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of the disease in six local government areas of Bauchi State.

The confirmation was made yesterday, by the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, while briefing Health Reporters at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Bauchi.

Mohammed who disclosed that  that 58 samples had been collected from January to date said, “Out of this number, 3 are confirmed diphtheria cases from the laboratory out of which two deaths have been reported in Jama’are local government area.”

The EC lamented that, “These cases are mostly among Fulani nomads and children with zero doses of immunisations.”

According to him, “The disease is among children between ages Eight months to Four years and there is a case of a Seven years old. The Agency had to close schools in Jama’are local government area because of the reported cases in a school.”

e issue of yellow fever is this anopheles mosquito which is found in the bush and most of the people, almost majority of them are Fulani.”