The House of Representatives has written to health authorities in the country to step up media campaigns on the outbreak of diphtheria in the country and develop strategies to contain further spread.
According to Hon Muktar Shagaya, a lawmaker from Kwara state, the recent tragic death of a four-year-old in Abuja owing to breathing issues from the disease has made it essential to raise alert levels on the infection.
Diphtheria is regarded as a dangerous bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose and throat mucous membranes by the Centre for Disease Control.
The World Health Organization adds that the disease often begins with a sore throat and fever before graduating to more extreme conditions like difficulties breathing and irregular heartbeats.
Shagaya, who proposed engaging the NCDC during a plenary session on Thursday, noted that diphtheria had killed 75 people in 21 states across the country since its outbreak began.
According to the World Health Organisation, there have been 550 cases reported across all 36 states of the federation.
Hon. Shagaya expressed concerns that the underreporting of the diphtheria outbreak in the nation could encourage transmission from one district to another.
He noted that the disease was very contagious and could be communicated through direct contact with a sick person or through their respiratory droplets.
As a result, the House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to work around the clock to guarantee the availability of vaccines.
In addition, the House advised stepping up media campaigns to inform the public about the risks linked with diphtheria and how to stop its spread.
In order to bring the outbreak to a successful conclusion, the House has directed the Committees on Healthcare Services and Legislative Compliance to ensure that the agreed-upon recommendations are adhered to.
