The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently launch a nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools to curb the spread of the deadly bacterial infection.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by House spokesman Akin Rotimi during plenary on Wednesday.
In the motion titled ‘The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos,’ Rotimi expressed deep concern over the disease outbreak and highlighted the need for swift government intervention after a 12-year-old student reportedly died from the disease.
He also expressed concern over the growing number of diphtheria cases, referencing data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
According to the NCDC’s Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of January 26, 2025, the country has recorded 24,804 confirmed cases across 25 states since 2022, with 1,269 deaths in 18 states.
Rotimi said, “The House is deeply concerned that this incident exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges.”
He further urged the Federal Ministry of Education to prioritise students safety in its institutions.
The House of Rep’s spokesman, however, commended the swift response of the Lagos State Government in activating an Emergency Operations Committee (EOC), isolating affected students, and initiating a mass vaccination drive to contain the outbreak. He further acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the NCDC and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in combating the disease.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the NPHCDA, and the NCDC to intensify vaccination and public awareness campaigns in schools to prevent further outbreaks.
The lawmakers also mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct an urgent review of health infrastructure in unity colleges and establish a clear response framework for infectious disease outbreaks.
The Green Chamber also tasked its Committees on Health and Basic Education with engaging relevant agencies to enhance infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.
It urged the Federal Government to provide compensation to the family of the deceased student.