Lawmakers Demand Urgent Action Against Diphtheria Spread In Schools

The House of Representatives is urging the Federal Government to launch a nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools to combat the spread of the bacterial infection.

This call to action follows the death of a 12-year-old student from diphtheria at King’s College, Lagos, and the hospitalization of several others.

The lawmakers adopted a motion of urgent public importance, emphasizing the need for swift government intervention. The vaccination campaign aims to prevent further outbreaks and protect students from this deadly disease.

Presenting the motion on Tuesday, Akin Rotimi, the house Spoke Man talks on the rising cases of diphtheria, citing data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s Weekly,

“Diphtheria Situation Report of January 26, 2025, which recorded 24,804 confirmed cases across 25 states since 2022, with 1,269 deaths in 18 states.

“The House is deeply concerned that this incident exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges,

He commended the Lagos State Government for its swift response to the diphtheria outbreak, isolating affected students, activating an Emergency Operations Committee, and launching a mass vaccination drive.

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.