The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has been summoned by the House of representatives, on tuesday, over the outbreak of monkeypox in the nation.
The House made the decision in Abuja Just as the National Centre for Disease Control confirmed that 31 cases of this disease has been recorded in the country.
The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, had reveal that Monkeypox cases was reported in seven states.
The states includes Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, River and Lagos.
At its plenary in Abuja, lead over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, the House was alerted that the disease has been spreading while it appeared that the Federal Ministry of Health was helpless with no relying on the World Health Organisation.
Mr. Diri Douye, a lawmaker from Bayelsa State, raised the issue below matters of pressing national importance, praying that the minister ought to be summoned.
Lawmakers shows concern that a Country, as large as Nigeria, didn’t have a laboratory to react to the health crisis without first sending specimen to Dakar, Senegal, for analyses.
They were also in shock that Adewole confessed that Nigeria was helpless.
“The House is concerned by the shocking admission of Adewole that monkeypox could not be confirmed in Nigeria until laboratory investigations by WHO and referral to Dakar, Senegal.
“Again, concerned that the disease has spread to other states, notably Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, in spite of concerted efforts by the Bayelsa State Government since the initial report in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,” the House motion read partly.
The minster is to describe the actions taken so far by the Federal Government to include the spread of this illness.
The resolution stated, “The House invites the minister of health to explain the alarming situation of how a country, as vast and resourced as Nigeria, will depend on a laboratory in Dakar, Senegal, to analyse samples at such a critical time of national health crisis.
“To explain what measures and strategies the country has in place to be more proactive in the active surveillance and rapid case detection of cases for the prevention and containment of monkeypox as well as other viruses in future.”
The House commended the Bayelsa State Government for its “quick intervention and collaborative efforts” so far.
Also, the Senate urged the Federal government to liaise with WHO and other donor agencies as Nigeria continued the struggle against monkeypox.
This was part of the prayers of a motion moved by Senator Ali Wakili (Bauchi South), which the Senate adopted at the plenary on Tuesday.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly also urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, local and state governments, to be proactive in containing and preventing the disease from spreading beyond where it was reported.
The lawmakers also called for competitive enlightenment and education of the citizens on steps which may be taken to mitigate risk factors of vulnerability to the virus, while still looking for a sustained public health education messages via media platforms.
While moving the motion, Wakili said the Senate was worried that “there are no specific treatment in the provision or availability of vaccine for monkeypox infection and that Nigerians have been thrown into panic as the country’s health sector is facing a myriad of challenges.”
Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate,in a comment thanked Wakili for the motion and its prayers.
