By Musa Baba Adamu
The Senate has mandated the Federal Ministry of Health to as a matter of urgency, commence immunization of vulnerable Nigerians against Diphtheria disease following the death of 20 people in Kaduna State.
The Senate decision followed a motion which came under order 41 and 51 sponsored by Sunday Marshall Katung (PDP Kaduna South) informing the Senators that about 20 people have died of Diphtheria in Kafanchan and Makarfi local government areas of Kaduna State.
Katung said the index case of a four-year-old male child whose illness started on July 4 in Jema’a LGA has led to the killing of about 20 people.
“Further notes that since this index case, the 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 the 23rd of July 2023;
“Also notes that a breakdown shows 10 people have reportedly died from the disease in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, while 3 children died in Makarfi Local Government Area, while seven others were hospitalized;
“Cognizant 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”, Katung said.
The Senate, however, mandated the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) to liaise with the hierarchy of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and other states for massive vaccines against the disease.
Also, the Senate called for intensify search for active cases of diphtheria with contact tracing, risk communication activities and movement of affected cases to health facilities for management.
The Senator also mandated the Federal Ministry of Health to liaise with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health with a view to moving health workers to the affected areas and also intensifying surveillance activities across the 23 LGAs of Kaduna State and neighboring states of Kano, Plateau and Nasarawa State”, the Senate said.
Contributing to the debate, Sen Ibrahim Khalid (PDP Kaduna North), who seconded to Katung’s motion, added that the disease was dangerous and deadly.
Also, Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra North) said the disease is very infectious and dangerous which look like Ebola and COVID-19.
Also, Darlington Nwokocha (Abia Central) said the motion is a wake up call adding that as the budget is coming, they must look at the health Sector critically.
The Senate President Goodwill Akpabio, who thanked Katung for bringing the motion, added that it will save lives and help the country from going into pandemic.
