LAWMAKERS CALL FOR PROVISION OF VACCINES TO CURTAIL RESURGENCE OF MENINGITIS
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency do what is necessary to provide vaccination and as well increase public awareness for the prevention of meningitis. A resolution was passed on the floor of the House during plenary on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 following a motion at the instance of Hon. Abdulrahman Shuaibu Abubakar, calling for massive public enlightenment campaigns on the scourge of the disease and encourage people to inculcate the culture of basic hygiene into their lifestyles to reduce transmission of the bacteria that causes meningitis.
He hinted that the his worry is as a result of the recent alarm raised by the World Health Organization, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Medcines Sans Frontiers and the United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) about the increasing cases of meningitis in Nigeria and Niger, stating that over 1,000 persons have died from the scourge in both countries since the beginning of 2015. The said Public Health bodies chose to raise the alarm because they are short of vaccines for meningitis, he added.
He stressed that Nigeria must consciously act to prevent further outbreak of the scourge as it often leaves untold pains on the sufferers, while imploring his colleagues to take responsibility in ensuring the welfare of the people by supporting the prayers of the motion.
The House also passed for second reading 'A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Chartered Institute of Export and Commodity Brokers of Nigeria and for Other Matters Connected Therewith (HB. 113) standing in the name of Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta.
The Bill was read the second time after the sponsor of the Bill led a debate on the general principles of the Bill, highligting the need for creation of a professional regulatory body to oversee activities of exporters and commodity brokers operating in the country, and such institute would among other things check all sorts of abuse and fraudulent businesses in that regard.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the 2016/2017/2018 Medium term and Fiscal Expenditure Framework alongside the Strategic Papers (MTEF/SP) to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The document was accordingly referred to the Committee on Appropriations for immediate legislative inputs.