Ebun Francis || Alarmed by the rate at which the monkeypox virus is spreading across the country, the House of representative on Tuesday summoned the minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole.
The minister is being summoned following the announcement by the National Council of disease control that 31 cases of the infection have been recorded in seven different states.
The states according to Dr. Chikwe Ihekwazu, the National Cordinator/ Chief Executive Officer of NCDC are, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ekiti and Ogun states.
The motion to summon the minister was raised by Mr. Diri Douye, a house member from Bayelsa State who expressed shock that the federal ministry of Health appeared to be helpless and relying solely on the World Health Organisation( WHO) to resolve the crisis.
Many members in the house expressed shock that Nigeria does not have a single laboratory to handle such a case and relies on the WHO laboratory in Dakar, Senegal.
The members also scandalised that the minister of health admitted publicly that the country was helpless against the menace of monkeypox.
“The House is concerned by the shocking admission of Adewole that Monkeypox could not be confirmed in Nigeria until laboratory investigations by the WHO and referral to Dakar, Senegal,” a member noted.
Tuesday’s plenary session was presided over by Yakubu Dogara, the speaker of the house of representative.