Hepatitis killed 28 in Nasarawa community – Lawmaker
Tamarauemi Ebimini
At least 28 persons have been reportedly killed by hepatitis in Ekye Development Area, Doma Local Area of Nasarawa State.
This is even as the state House of Assembly, urged the state government to declare state of emergency on hepatitis and other deadly diseases across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The death toll was revealed during the House plenary in a matter of urgent importance brought before the Assembly by a member representing Doma South Constituency, Musa Abubakar-Ibrahim.
The lawmaker informed his colleagues that 28 people in his constituency died from hepatitis from October 2023 to date.
He said, “Mr Speaker and my colleagues, there is a serious health challenge in my constituency as 28 people have been reportedly killed as a result of hepatitis outbreak from October last year to date. Hepatitis is killing my people and something needed to be done to curtail the decease in the area.
“I beg that the government should address this problem. We should come up with a strong committee to address this issue. Go to rural areas and see, our health facilities are in a bad shape.”
Deliberating on the matter, Speaker of the House, Mr. Danladi Jatau, explained that the situation is a matter of urgent concern to both the government and the people of the state.
“We have two resolutions to the effects that His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule is hereby directed to ask the Ministry of Health to move its experts to the affected communities to ascertain the situation and do the needful.
“Secondly, the state government should declare a state of emergency on hepatitis and other deadly diseases in the state,” he said.
He added that the move would go a long way in averting the escalation of the disease and improve the health status of the people of the state.
Mr. Jatau sympathised with the people of Doma South constituency and the families over the deaths and prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest.
The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the House resolutions to the Governor for his further necessary action.
