ADVERTISEMENT

Senate urges Health Ministry to make vaccines free

Pulse checks reveal that the vaccine is currently being administered at N5,000 in some public healthcare centres and N15,000 in private clinics.

Nigeria lies in the so-called meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa, stretching from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, where outbreaks of the disease are a regular occurence

The resolution followed a motion titled: “Outbreak of Meningitis and the Urgent Need to Curb its Spread & Stop Further Deaths” sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa and 16 others.

checks revealed that the vaccine is currently being administered at N5,000 in public healthcare centres and N15,000 in private clinics.

The Senate noted the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis in five States, while also stressing the need for an increase in the budget of the Federal Ministry of Health, in order to ensure that the Ministry and its parastatals are able to better fund healthcare-related activities in the country.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Senators also resolved that meningitis vaccinations should be made free across the country, citing the need for agencies of the federal government to continue to collaborate with the World Health Organization and UNICEF to make the scarce inoculations against meningitis readily available.

Senate President Bukola Saraki noted that with Lassa Fever, Cholera and Meningitis outbreak in parts of the country, there was a need for increased coordination and funding for regular and specialized healthcare in the 2017 budget.

He assured Nigerians that the Senate is prepared to promptly pass any supplemental appropriation request to combat disease outbreaks.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Ex-Governor's son dies in road accident in Kaduna

Ex-Governor's son dies in road accident in Kaduna

Those who sold their votes suffering the most now - Embattled PDP chair, Damagum

Those who sold their votes suffering the most now - Embattled PDP chair, Damagum

Katsina Gov donates $10,000 for renovation of mosque in Niger Republic

Katsina Gov donates $10,000 for renovation of mosque in Niger Republic

France Trip: Tinubu free to go anywhere he likes - Presidency replies critics

France Trip: Tinubu free to go anywhere he likes - Presidency replies critics

EFCC declares chairman of Total Grace Oil, Akinduro wanted for alleged fraud

EFCC declares chairman of Total Grace Oil, Akinduro wanted for alleged fraud

Reps want to create Bola Tinubu University to teach Nigerian languages

Reps want to create Bola Tinubu University to teach Nigerian languages

Nigeria needs T-pain to make economic progress - Reno Omokri

Nigeria needs T-pain to make economic progress - Reno Omokri

FG begins construction of Gateway Inland Dry Port in Ogun

FG begins construction of Gateway Inland Dry Port in Ogun

Declare state of emergency on egg production in Nigeria - Poultry owners tell FG

Declare state of emergency on egg production in Nigeria - Poultry owners tell FG

Pulse Sports

Ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham desperate to return to Nigeria after rejecting Super Eagles

Ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham desperate to return to Nigeria after rejecting Super Eagles

Super Eagles 1-0 Libya: Nigerians compare Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to legend Jay-Jay Okocha

Super Eagles 1-0 Libya: Nigerians compare Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to legend Jay-Jay Okocha

Nigeria vs Libya: Fisayo is the new Okocha, another Boniface stinker among 3 things we learnt from Super Eagles triumph

Nigeria vs Libya: Fisayo is the new Okocha, another Boniface stinker among 3 things we learnt from Super Eagles triumph

Super Eagles star Victor Boniface matches Okocha’s record

Super Eagles star Victor Boniface matches Okocha’s record

Naija stars abroad: Boniface shines in disappointment as Okoye makes Super Eagles starting claim

Naija stars abroad: Boniface shines in disappointment as Okoye makes Super Eagles starting claim

Victor Osimhen and Tosin Demehin: Super Eagles and Super Falcons stars link up in Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen and Tosin Demehin: Super Eagles and Super Falcons stars link up in Galatasaray

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT