From FRED ITUA, Abuja

Worried over the outbreak of meningitis in many states, the Senate has ordered the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant government agencies to carry out a nationwide immunization of children and adults that are susceptible to the disease.

The order is coming barely twenty four hours after the Acting Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Emmanuel Odu and the Chief Executive Secretary of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu‎, revealed that $1.1 billion was required for the vaccination of 22 million persons in the five states affected by the outbreak of the Type C Cerebro-spinal meningitis.

According to Ihekweazu,‎ the five states are Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Niger. The duo also revealed that the casualty figure now stands at 328, from 2,524 cases. He disclosed that each vaccine could cost between $30 and $50.

In a motion sponsored yesterday by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the Senate said there is a need for the Federal Ministry of Health and its counterpart ministries at the state level to work together to prevent further outbreak of the disease.

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Revealing that the disease is mostly associated with overcrowding, lack of ventilation and usually peak during the dry season between November and April, the Senate said the vaccines need to be acquired through a special process coordinated by the World Health Organization.

Senator Ashafa in the motion said: “This recent meningitis type is a new strand called Stereotype C, unlike the previous kind of Meningitis called Stereotype A, which has disappeared, hence the Vaccine that provides protection for this type of Meningitis is not commercially viable.

“We should direct the Federal Ministry of Health and its various agencies/parastatals to work closely with the World Health Organization in order to acquire sufficient vaccines needed to respond to the outbreak and prevent further cases.”

President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, in his brief remarks, said the Federal Ministry of Health must provide the needed vaccines for victims and full vaccination for new born babies.

“It is a deadly disease. I thank the federal government for its quick intervention. We must ensure that the Ministry of Health provides the needed vaccines. They should ensure full vaccination for new born babies,” he said.