Senate tells Health Ministry to immunise Nigerians against Diphtheria

<p>President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said vaccination would save lives and help the country from going into pandemic.</p>, <span>Nigerian senators Tope Brown</span>, <h2>The Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Ministry of Health to begin immunisation of vulnerable Nigerians against Diphtheria disease given the death of 20 people in Kaduna State.</h2>, <p>Senate resolution was sequel to a motion at plenary on Wednesday sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung (PDP PDP- Kaduna-South) notifying the red chamber on death of 20 people in Kafanchan and Makarfi local government areas of Kaduna State.</p>, <p>Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxin. It can lead to difficulty breathing, heart rhythm problems, and even death.</p>, <p>Katung said the index case of a four-year-old male child whose illness started on July 4 in Jema’a Local Government Area (LGA) has led to the killing of about 20 people.</p>, <p>“Further notes that since this index case, the Kaduna State Government has confirmed that the death toll from the diphtheria outbreak in the state has risen to 17 with 68 suspected cases identified across the state as at Sunday July 23, 2023.</p>, <p>“Also notes that a breakdown shows 10 people have reportedly died from the disease in Kafanchan, Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State, while three died in Makarfi LGA, while seven others were hospitalised.</p>, <p>“Cognizant that diphtheria is a highly contagious, infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheria rendering infected people struck with serious breathing and swallowing problems that may develop sores on the skin.”</p>, <p>The lawmaker expressed concern that the highly contagious nature of the disease means that without immediate and concerted efforts towards curbing, it would spread at a devastating rate in rural communities.</p>, <p>He said Nigeria’s recent experiences with Ebola virus and the Covid-19 pandemic showed why outbreaks of virus epidemics must be fought