The Kano State House of Assembly has urged Governor Abba Yusuf to take immediate emergency measures to contain a worsening diphtheria outbreak that has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 50 children in Rano Local Government Area.
During a plenary session on Monday chaired by Speaker Ismail Falgore, lawmaker Ibrahim Muhammad, representing Rano Constituency, raised a motion of urgent public importance highlighting the severe impact of the disease, particularly in the Ridin and Sabuwar Kaura areas. He noted that despite initial deployments of medical personnel and essential drugs, the situation remains dire, reiterating concerns that diphtheria has resurfaced after causing multiple fatalities in the region last year.
“We want to inform the Governor and the Commissioner for Health to send further emergency aid to the region because the disease has spread heavily in that area,” Muhammad said, explaining that additional state support is vital to curb further losses.
Seconding the motion, Kiru Constituency representative Usman Abubakar Tasiu reported that the infection has spilled over into neighbouring communities such as Kwarin Dangora, Dangora town, and Yelwa, revealing that an APC youth leader in Kiru lost two children to the illness in a single day.
Tasiu proposed the creation of a joint task force to manage the outbreak across vulnerable local government areas, including Rano, Kiru, Tudun Wada, Kibiya, Bunkure, and Bebeji. Dawakin Tofa lawmaker Saleh Ahmad called for accelerated immunisation drives to prevent widespread transmission while emphasising the contagious nature of the infection.
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Lawan Husseini advised the administration to enforce the state’s Health Protection Law, which grants powers to restrict movement, isolate infected individuals, and provide free medical assistance during public health crises.
The Assembly unanimously passed the motion, mandating its Committee on Health to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to enforce health protection legislation and dispatch rapid relief to the stricken communities.