The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to launch an urgent nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools to address the growing threat of the bacterial infection.

This resolution came after lawmakers adopted a motion of urgent public importance, presented by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, during a plenary session on Wednesday.

The motion, titled *The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos*, was prompted by the tragic death of a 12-year-old student from diphtheria, with several others hospitalized.

Rotimi called for immediate government action, citing alarming figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

As stated by the NCDC’s January 26, 2025, report, there have been 24,804 confirmed cases and 1,269 deaths across 25 states since 2022.

Rotimi expressed concern over the lack of adequate infection prevention and control measures at federal unity colleges, highlighting the critical need for the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure student safety.

READ ALSO : Diphtheria outbreak leads to death, hospitalizations at King’s College

He also commended the swift response by the Lagos State Government, which isolated the affected students, activated an Emergency Operations Committee, and launched a mass vaccination campaign to contain the outbreak.

Acknowledging the efforts of the NCDC and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency,NPHCDA, Rotimi emphasized the importance of their continued work to control the disease.

In response to the motion, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA, and NCDC to ramp up vaccination efforts and public awareness campaigns in schools.

Lawmakers also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently review health infrastructure in unity colleges and establish a clear protocol for responding to infectious disease outbreaks.

Additionally, the House tasked its Committees on Health and Basic Education with collaborating with relevant agencies to improve infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.

The House also recommended that the Federal Government offer compensation to the family of the deceased student, acknowledging the loss and emphasizing the responsibility to protect students in federal institutions.

Crediblenewsng.com