As a result of the outbreak of monkey pox in the country, the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, October 10, summoned the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole.
The House took the decision in Abuja just as the National Centre for Disease Control confirmed that 31 cases of the disease had been recorded in the country.
The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, had disclosed that monkey pox cases had been reported in seven states.
The states are Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, River and Lagos.
At its plenary in Abuja, presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, the House was alarmed that the disease was spreading while it appeared that the Federal Ministry of Health was helpless without relying on the World Health Organisation.
A lawmaker from Bayelsa State, Mr. Diri Douye, raised the issue under matters of urgent national importance, praying that the minister should be summoned.
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The prayer was immediately passed in a unanimous voice vote.
Lawmakers expressed concern that a country, as big as Nigeria, did not have a laboratory to respond to the health emergency without first sending specimen to Dakar, Senegal, for investigations.
They were also in shock that Adewole admitted that Nigeria was helpless.
“The House is concerned by the shocking admission of Adewole that monkeypox could not be confirmed in Nigeria until laboratory investigations by WHO and referral to Dakar, Senegal.
“Again, concerned that the disease has spread to other states, notably Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, in spite of concerted efforts by the Bayelsa State Government since the initial report in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,” the House motion read partly.
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The minster is to explain the actions taken so far by the Federal Government to contain the spread of the disease.
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