The House of Representatives calls the Federal Government to launch an urgent diphtheria vaccination drive in schools.
This call follows a recent outbreak at King’s College, Lagos, which tragically claimed the life of a 12-year-old student and led to the hospitalisation of several others.
During a plenary session on March 12, lawmakers expressed serious concern over the rising number of diphtheria cases.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi presented data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, noting that over 24,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,200 deaths have been recorded across multiple states since 2022.
He warned that without immediate intervention, more school outbreaks could jeopardise the health of millions of children.
In response, legislators have demanded:
- A swift nationwide vaccination campaign.
- A review and strengthening of health and safety measures in federal unity colleges.
- Enhanced public awareness initiatives to educate parents and school authorities about the risks and prevention of diphtheria.
- Coordinated action from the Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Ministry of Education.
- Support and compensation for the family of the deceased student.
Following the incident at King’s College in Victoria Island, Lagos state health authorities quickly implemented emergency measures.
These included screening students, administering antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin therapy, and enforcing stricter infection control protocols in classrooms and dormitories.
The Lagos State Government has also announced plans to extend the vaccination exercise to additional schools.
Understanding Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious, vaccine-preventable disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Although once a common childhood illness, widespread immunisation has significantly reduced its occurrence.
However, periodic outbreaks still occur, emphasising the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage.
A Brief History
Once a major cause of illness and death in children worldwide, diphtheria cases declined sharply with the introduction of the diphtheria toxoid vaccine. Despite this progress, lapses in vaccination efforts can lead to outbreaks, like what has been seen with measles lately.
Signs And Symptoms
Early symptoms typically include a sore throat, fever, and swollen glands. A distinctive sign is the development of a thick, greyish membrane over the throat and tonsils, which can obstruct breathing and lead to serious complications.
Prevention
The primary defence against diphtheria is vaccination. Routine childhood immunisation schedules include the diphtheria toxoid, which significantly lowers the risk of contracting the disease.
Vaccination And Treatments
Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent diphtheria. In cases of infection, early treatment with antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin is critical to neutralise the toxin and reduce the severity of symptoms. Prompt medical intervention is essential for a successful recovery.
The current push for a nationwide vaccination campaign underscores the urgent need to protect children from diphtheria. By enhancing vaccination efforts, reviewing school health safety protocols, and increasing public awareness, government and health authorities hope to curb the outbreak and prevent future incidents, ensuring safer learning environments for all students.
Innovative initiatives like HelpMum’s AI-powered immunisation tracker can help parents monitor their children’s immunisation and ensure they get the proper vaccine doses throughout their early years.
Further Reading
Diphtheria Outbreak In Nigeria: What We Know Now.
