Reps challenge Health Ministry, NCDC to address outbreak of Diphtheria without delay

Nigeria’s lower legisative Chamber on Tuesday challenged the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC to address the outbreak of Diphtheria across States of the country without delay.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by a lawmaker, Hon Muktar Shagaya from Kwara State.

Presenting his debate, Hon Shagaya informed that the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have witnessed a total of 555 cases of the desease adding that reports from the World Health Organisation, WHO, has confirmed the figures.

The lawmaker further disclosed to his colleagues and fellow lawmakers during plenary that since the outbreak of the disease, more than seventy five deaths have been recorded in 21 affected States excluding the recent death of a four years old boy in the Federal Capital Territory.

He however, lamented that diphtheria desease cases are under-reported by the media in Nigeria despite repeated threats being pose to public health as well as that of respiratory complications, heart rhythm problems and other fatal outcomes in situations of late detection.

“Also notes that diphtheria is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease which spreads between people mainly by direct contact or through the air via respiratory droplets.

Adopting the motion, the house called on the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and NCDC to intensify its sensitization and enlightenment campaign to prevent and eradicate the scourge of diphtheria and other related diseases across the country