The Nigerian Senate has directed the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency to take measures to address the outbreak of measles in Wusar, Igabi LGA of Kaduna state.
Measles broke out in the remote village of Wusar in Gwaraji ward last week killing 100 children, but the Senate, following a motion by Senator Uba Sani, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone, on Tuesday directed the two agencies to take urgent steps to reduce the casualty figure, while directing National Emergency Management Agency to provide the victims and their relations with relief materials.
A Resolution of the Senate, aimed at stopping the spread of the disease withing and outside Kaduna state, said, “the Senate sympathize with the people of Wusar community, Gwaraji Ward, Igabi Local Government and government of Kaduna state for the unfortunate measles outbreak and observe a minute’s silence in honour of the children who lost their lives as a result.
“Direct the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to as matter of urgency report to the community for on-the-spot assessment, with a view to providing relief materials and all other necessary support as may be necessary to mitigate the loss suffered by the community.
“Urge the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development
Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Orientation Agency and other relevant Federal Government Agencies to embark on, and intensify massive sensitization and awareness campaign on the dangers associated with measles with a view to eliminating the scourge in the country.
“Direct the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to set up an office in Kaduna
state in earnest.”
The Senate also called for an engagement with the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the status of the Centre’s statutory requirement to have Zonal Centres in all the six geo political zones and offices in all the States of the Federation, as well as follow up on the activities of the Centre.
The upper legislative chamber also urged, “Increased budgetary allocation for the management of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the management of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in order to fast track the establishment of zonal centres in all the six geo political zones and offices in all the states of the federation.”
