The House of Representatives urges decisive measures to combat the diphtheria outbreak, advocating for school vaccinations and awareness campaigns
The House of Representatives has called for immediate and decisive action to strengthen health and safety measures in federal unity colleges following the diphtheria outbreak at King’s College, Lagos, which led to the death of a 12-year-old student and the hospitalization of several others.
In a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Akintunde Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), the House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to swiftly review and reinforce infection prevention protocols in all federal unity colleges, particularly addressing the situation at King’s College.
The House also mandated its Committees on Health and Basic Education to engage with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to assess and enhance emergency response measures in federal schools.
ALSO READ: Senate raises alarm on low awareness of Anthrax disease in Nigeria
Lawmakers directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the NCDC to intensify diphtheria vaccination and awareness campaigns in schools across Nigeria to prevent future outbreaks.
Additionally, the House called for:
- An urgent and comprehensive review of health infrastructure in unity colleges to establish a structured response framework for infectious disease outbreaks.
- The NCDC to implement a disease surveillance system within all federal unity colleges for early detection and rapid response to infections.
- Increased collaboration between federal and state agencies to ensure the health and well-being of students in educational institutions.
- Appropriate compensation for the bereaved family, recognizing their tragic loss and the government’s duty of care to students in federal institutions.
Leading the debate, Rep. Rotimi expressed concern over the scale of the diphtheria outbreak, citing data from the NCDC’s Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report (January 26, 2025), which revealed that 24,804 confirmed cases were recorded across 25 states from 2022 to early 2025.
He further noted that 1,269 fatalities were reported in 18 states, with some states experiencing alarmingly high Case Fatality Rates (CFR) of 80-83 percent.
“This unfortunate incident at King’s College exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in federal unity colleges and underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s responsibility to ensure the safety of students in its institutions,” Rotimi stated.
Rotimi acknowledged the swift intervention of the Lagos State Government, which activated an Emergency Operations Committee (EOC), isolated and treated affected students, and initiated a mass vaccination campaign to curb the spread of the disease.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive and proactive national strategy, urging continued collaboration among the NCDC, NPHCDA, and Lagos State to effectively manage public health crises in schools.
About Diphtheria disease
Diphtheria is a disease caused by a bacterium that affects the upper respiratory tract and less often the skin. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection primarily affecting the nose and throat, and occasionally the skin, causing a thick, grayish coating in the throat and potentially leading to serious complications like airway obstruction and even death if left untreated.
Cause:
Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The bacterium produces a toxin that damages the tissues, especially in the nose and throat, causing the formation of a characteristic grayish membrane.
Symptoms:
Initial symptoms include sore throat, hoarseness, and a mild fever. More serious symptoms include a thick, gray coating in the throat that can lead to difficulty breathing and swallowing, and in some cases, sores on the skin.
Complications:
Diphtheria can lead to serious complications if left untreated or if the infection spreads beyond the throat, including myocarditis (heart inflammation), nerve damage, and paralysis.
Transmission:
Diphtheria is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s coughs or sneezes, or contact with contaminated surfaces.
Prevention:
The most effective way to prevent diphtheria is through vaccination with the DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) vaccine.
STAR Check: Nigerians, particularly, constituents of Ikole/Oye federal constituency Ekiti State, can keep tabs on the legislative performance of Rep. Rotimi throughout the 10th House here
