In a motion moved by honourable Aboullahi El-Rasheed, the member representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe State, the federal government as well as various government health parastatals have been urged to make an investigation to identify as well as stop the spread of a yet to be identified killer disease that is currently spreading like wildfire in Nafada Local Government Area in Gombe State.
According to recent reports there is an ongoing spread of a yet to be identified but deadly disease spreading around the Nafada Local Government area which has led to the death of a large number of people including both youths and children, within just a few days. Sadly, the number of the people affected by this yet to be identified disease keeps on increasing and this has led to panic and anxiety in the community as well as neighbouring communities.
House of Rep member Honourable Aboullahi El-Rasheed said, “The House is disturbed that the blood samples of a few victims that were tested in the medical laboratory have shown negative reaction to Cerebrospinal Meningitis, which implies that the disease is yet to be diagnosed by health authorities and medical experts in Gombe State.
“Worried that the disease is fast spreading with about 30 deaths recorded as of February 26, 2024, and that it can potentially halt business and school activities across the communities as parents are afraid of sending their children to school due to fear of contracting the disease;
“We are further worried that the situation will escalate and spread to other neighbouring communities and local governments if not properly and professionally managed.”
As a result of this sad development, the house of representatives has called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, The Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention as well as the Federal Government to take steps to help curtail the spread of this deadly disease and to also give adequate care to those who have been affected.
According to Honourable Aboullahi El-Rasheed, the symptoms of the disease exhibited by those who are affected by the killer disease include stomach pain, severe headache, vomiting of very smelly stool and also leg pains.
He also made it known that the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development agency has deployed health personnel to support the staff members of Nafada General Hospital in order to stop the spread of the disease and to also help in giving proper medical care to the affected people.