The House of Representatives will invite the Honorable Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole to explain what proactive measures the Federal Government has put in place to curtail the outbreak of suspected reported cases of Monkey pox in the country. Among others, the Minister will also be expected to explain why a country as vast and resourced like Nigeria is expecting an official confirmation of the disease after laboratory investigations have been conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Dakar, Senegal.
Presenting the motion at the House plenary on Tuesday, 10th October 2017, Hon.Douye Diri (PDP: Bayelsa) stated that Monkey Pox was so named after its link to monkeys was first discovered. Citing a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), he stated that the disease had been described as “relatively rare” and transmitted primarily from animals to humans. He also mentioned that the epidemic was initially reported by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health after its symptoms were identified in an 11-year old boy who was admitted for treatment in the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH),Okolobiri, Bayelsa State on 22nd September, 2017. The lawmaker also explained that fear had now gripped residents of his State who feared for their lives after 14 other persons in the State had reported symptoms of the disease,which last ravaged the country in the 1970’s.
According to the lawmaker, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Health, Professor Ebitimitula Etebu stated that the 14 suspected cases were at different stages of recovery following treatment at a make shift isolation ward at NDUTH. Furthermore, that 55 close contacts that were identified as “high risk” are being monitored as active surveillance and quick detection of cases helps halt the spread.
However, contributing to the motion, Hon. Oladele expressed worry over implications by the Minister of Health that monkey pox could not be confirmed in Nigeria until laboratory investigations are conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) referral laboratory in Dakar, Senegal.
The House also resolved to call on the Federal Government to provide financial as well as logistical support to the Bayelsa State Government and reach out to threatened water locked communities as a means of curtailing the outbreak. In addition to this, the House Committee on Health has been mandated to investigate the outbreak and report its findings for further legislative action in two weeks.
