Nasarawa Assembly Urges govt to Declare state of emergency on hepatitis

Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has urged the state government to declare state of emergency on hepatitis and other deadly diseases in the state.

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Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, gave the directive during House proceedings in Lafia under matters of public urgent importance brought by Hon Musa Abubakar Ibrahim over the death of 28 people in Ekye community as a result of hepatitis.

He said that if government declare a state of emergency on hepatitis and other deadly diseases, it would go a long way in curtailing the spread of the disease thereby improving on the health status of the people of the state.

He appreciated Hon Musa Ibrahim and other members for their contributions on the matter.

The Speaker sympathized with the people of Doma South constituency and the families over the death of their loved ones and prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

“We have two resolutions to the effects that His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule is hereby directed to ask the Ministry of Health to move their 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.

The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the House resolutions to the Governor for his further necessary action.

In their contributions, Hon Muhammad Oyanki, Hon Daniel Ogazi, Dr Ibrahim Peter Akwe, Hon Solomon Akwashiki and Hon Larry Ven Bawa, all said that government must give attention to eliminate hepatitis and other deadly diseases in the state.

They also said that special attention should be given to the treatment of hepatitis in the state.

Meanwhile, Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, member representing Doma South constituency while raising the matter said 28 people of his constituency died as a result of hepatitis from October 2023 to date.

“Mr Speaker and my colleagues, there is serious health problem in my constituency as 28 people died of hepatitis from Oct. to date.

“Hepatitis is killing my people and something needed to be done to curtail it.

“I beg that government should tackle this problem, we should come up with strong committee to address this issue.

“Go to rural areas and see, our health facilities are in bad shape,” he added.