The senate on Thursday directed the ministry of health to work with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to acquire vaccines to combat the outbreak of meningitis.
The upper legislative chamber also directed the relevant agencies to carry out mass sensitisation and immunisation of children and adults susceptible to the disease.
The resolutions were sequel to a motion sponsored by Gbenga Ashafa, senator representing Lagos east and four other senators.
Moving the motion, Ashafa noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed the outbreak of meningitis in five states.
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“Zamfara has the highest number of confirmed cases of 44, followed by Katsina with 32, Sokoto with 19, Kebbi with 10 and Niger with 4,” Ashafa said.
“The outbreak has reached the federal capital territory Abuja as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday 29th March 2017, the FCT primary health care development board recorded four deaths on Tuesday, 28th March 2017 in Durumi area of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
“The board also confirmed the death of a boy in Dakwa area of Bwari area council on Wednesday, 29th March 2017, while the autopsy carried out on the deceased at the university of Abuja teaching hospital Gwagwalada confirmed the cause of death to be meningitis as published in Premium Times online newspaper of Friday 31st, March 2017.
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“There is a need for the federal ministry of health and its counterpart ministries at the state level to work together to prevent further outbreak.”
The senate adopted the motion when it was put to a voice vote by Bukola Saraki, senate president.
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