The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to initiate a nationwide diphtheria vaccination and awareness campaign in schools to prevent further outbreaks of the disease.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the House Spokesperson, Mr. Akin Rotimi, in response to a recent diphtheria outbreak at King’s College, Lagos, which led to the death of a 12-year-old student and the hospitalization of several others.
During the debate, Mr. Rotimi highlighted the urgent need for improved infection prevention and control measures in schools, emphasizing that the outbreak exposed critical gaps in health and safety protocols.
The House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to take immediate steps to strengthen health protocols in all federal unity colleges. Additionally, it mandated the Committees on Health and Basic Education to collaborate with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to assess and enhance emergency response measures in schools.
Furthermore, lawmakers directed the NCDC to establish a structured disease surveillance system within all federal unity colleges to ensure early detection and a swift response to infectious disease outbreaks.
