Reps Advocate for Vaccination in Schools After King’s College Incident

Reps Advocate for Vaccination in Schools After King’s College Incident

Following the tragic diphtheria outbreak at King’s College, Lagos, which led to the death of a student, the Nigerian House of Representatives has called for an urgent vaccination campaign in schools nationwide. The motion, sponsored by House spokesman Mr. Akin Rotimi, was passed in response to the growing concerns over the diphtheria cases, with over 24,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,200 fatalities across 25 states in Nigeria since 2022………READ MORE

The outbreak at King’s College led to the hospitalization of several students, highlighting significant gaps in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges. The House has urged the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) to launch intensive vaccination and awareness campaigns in schools.

The motion also called for a review of health infrastructure in federal unity colleges, emphasizing the need for stronger health and safety protocols. Additionally, the Ministry of Education was urged to develop an effective framework for responding to infectious disease outbreaks in educational institutions.

Furthermore, the House directed its committees on Health and Basic Education to collaborate with relevant agencies to enhance infection prevention measures and provide recommendations for improving emergency response systems. The Federal Government was also urged to compensate the family of the deceased student.