The House of Representatives has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to launch an immediate nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools to halt the spread of the deadly bacterial infection.
The reps’ directive is following the death of a 12 years old student from King’s College, Lagos, and the hospitalization of several others.
The directive came after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance titled The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos, moved by House spokesman, Akin Rotimi during Wednesday’s plenary session.
The motion highlighted the urgent need for government intervention as diphtheria cases surge across the country, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reporting 24,804 confirmed cases and 1,269 deaths across 25 states since 2022, according to its Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of January 26, 2025.
Rotimi, while presenting the motion, raised concerns over systemic failures in infection control measures. He stated, “The House is deeply concerned that this incident exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges.”
He also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to prioritize student safety in its institutions.
The House also mandated the Federal Ministry of Health, the NCDC, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to intensify vaccination drives and public awareness campaigns in schools to prevent further outbreaks.
Additionally, lawmakers directed the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently review health infrastructure in unity colleges and establish a clear framework for responding to infectious disease outbreaks.
Further resolutions included a call for the Federal Government to compensate the family of the deceased student, acknowledging the tragic loss and the duty of care owed to students in federal institutions.
The House also tasked its Committees on Health and Basic Education to collaborate with relevant agencies to strengthen infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.
Rotimi commended the Lagos State Government for its prompt response, which included isolating affected students, activating an Emergency Operations Committee, and launching a mass vaccination drive to contain the outbreak.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the NCDC and NPHCDA in combating the disease nationwide.
