By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The recent outbreak of diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos, which claimed the life of a 12-year-old student, has sparked widespread outrage and concern among Nigerians.
The House of Representatives’ call for a nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign has been met with a mix of relief and frustration.
Many parents, whose children are currently in school, have expressed gratitude for the House’s swift response, feeling relieved that the government is finally taking action to protect their children. They are anxious to see the vaccination campaign implemented as soon as possible.
On the other hand, many Nigerians have taken to social media to express their outrage and frustration at the government’s handling of the outbreak.
They are demanding to know why more wasn’t done to prevent the outbreak in the first place and why it took the death of a student for the government to take action.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 24,804 confirmed cases of diphtheria across 25 states since 2022, with 1,269 deaths in 18 states.
The sheer scale of the outbreak has left many Nigerians feeling anxious and vulnerable, wondering if their loved ones could be at risk.
There is a growing sense of unease among Nigerians, who are questioning the government’s ability to provide adequate healthcare and protect its citizens.
The House of Representatives’ call for a nationwide vaccination campaign is seen as a step in the right direction, but many Nigerians are demanding more action from the government.
As the government moves to implement the vaccination campaign, Nigerians will be watching closely to see if their concerns are addressed.
The outbreak of diphtheria has sparked a national conversation about the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, and it’s a conversation that’s long overdue.
