Hepatitis kills 28 in Nasarawa, Doma LGA worst hit ****as Assembly calls for state of emergency in health sector

By David Okpashi

LAFIA — No fewer than 28 persons have been reportedly killed as hepatitis hits Ekye development Area in Doma Local area of Nasarawa state.

This is even as the State House of Assembly, has urged the state government to declare state of emergency in hepatitis and other deadly diseases in the state.

The outbreak of the deceased was made known during the house plenary on Monday in a matter of urgent importance brought before the Assembly by a member representing the area, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim.

Presenting the matter before the house, Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, member representing Doma South constituency informed the lawmakers that 28 people of his constituency have 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 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 decease in the area”..

“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,” Abubakar stated.

Deliberating on the matter, Speaker of the House said the death of 28 people in Ekye community as a result of hepatitis was 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, 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 called for the declaration of a state of emergency on hepatitis and other deadly diseases, adding that the move would go a long way in curtailing the spread of the disease and improve on the health status of the people of the state.

The Speaker who 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, appreciated Hon Musa Ibrahim and other members for their contributions on the matter.

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.