Dirisu Yakubu
Following the death of some persons in the Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State, by an unknown ailment, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to investigate and curtail the spread of the yet-to-be-identified disease.
The House asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as a matter of emergency, to urgently deploy its personnel to verify the nature of the disease.
The House also called the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to put up surveillance measures to contain the spread of the disease and ensure that adequate treatment is extended to affected victims
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved by Aboullahi El-Rasheed, the member representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency, Gombe State.
Moving the motion, he lamented the outbreak of the yet-to-be-identified disease that is gradually spreading across communities in Nafada LGA.
According to him, the disease has claimed the lives of youths and children within the affected communities in the last few days, adding that the number of victims continues to increase rapidly, thereby instilling fear and apprehension in the affected communities.
He listed the symptoms of the disease to include severe headache, stomach pain, vomiting very smelly stool, and leg pain leading victims, which spread to other parts of the body before death.
The lawmaker said the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has deployed more health personnel to support the existing staff members of Nafada General Hospital with a view to averting the spread of the disease and extending medical attention to affected victims.
“The House is disturbed that the blood samples of a few victims that were tested in the medical laboratory have shown negative reaction to Cerebrospinal Meningitis, which implies that the disease is yet to be diagnosed by health authorities and medical experts in Gombe State.
“Worried that the disease is fast spreading with about 30 deaths recorded as of February 26, 2024, and that it can potentially halt business and school activities across the communities as parents are afraid of sending their children to school due to fear of contracting the disease;
“We are further worried that the situation will escalate and spread to other neighbouring communities and local governments if not properly and professionally managed.”
Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committees on Healthcare Services and Legislative Compliance to see to the matter.
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