The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to urgently commence the vaccination of students in schools across the country to stop the spread of diphtheria.
The House’s decision follows the consideration and adoption of a motion of urgent public importance at plenary, sponsored by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, who revealed that the outbreak of diphtheria in the boarding house of King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, Lagos, had already killed a 12-year-old student and hospitalized several others.
Rotimi says according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of 26th January, 2025, there were 1,269 fatalities across 18 states, with some states having as high as 80-83 per cent Case Fatality Rate.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the NPHCDA, and the NCDC to intensify diphtheria vaccination and awareness campaigns in schools across the country to prevent future outbreaks.