By Victor Oluwasegun and Tony Akowe, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed concern over the mysterious deaths in Jigawa State and has urged the Federal government to urgently establish at least five testing centres in the State and equip them with the necessary facilities and drugs.
This was sequel to the passage of a motion by Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata and 10 other lawmakers titled: “Need to Address the Incidence of Mysterious Deaths in Jigawa State.”
The lawmakers also resolved to discourage State governments from returning infected persons to their States of origin.
The House Committees on Health Institutions and Healthcare Services were thereafter mandated to ensure compliance.,
Fulata while moving the motion said: “Then House notes that since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria three months ago, Jigawa State is one of the States that was completely insulated from the ravages of the deadly disease until the index case was transferred from the custody of the Kano State government to the State.
“Worried that most Jigawa State indigenes who were infected in neighbouring states are being transported back to their communities in Jigawa State.
Disturbed that 40% of the Almajiris who were returned to Jigawa State from Kano State tested positive to the virus;
“Concerned about the alarming rate of community transmission which has started claiming lives as was the case in Hadeja, Dutse, Birinn Kudu, Gumel, Mallam Madori and many other local governments;
“Aware that Jigawa State has no single testing centre and most of the hospitals and health institutions are not equipped in terms of facilities, drugs and personnel.”
When the Speaker of the, Rep. Femi Gbajagbiamila called for a voice vote, the motion was adopted by members without debate.
