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The Kano State House of Assembly has urged Governor Abba Yusuf to urgently intervene in a diphtheria outbreak that has reportedly killed over 50 children in Rano LGA.
The lawmakers made the call during Tuesday’s plenary after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Ibrahim Muhammad, representing Rano constituency.
Muhammad said the outbreak was severe in Ridin and Sabuwar Kaura communities, with more than 50 children reportedly dead.
“Although emergency measures had been taken, including the purchase of medication and deployment of health workers to the affected communities, further intervention is needed to contain the outbreak,” he said.
He urged the state government to provide more emergency support, noting that a similar outbreak in 2025 had also claimed several lives in the area.
“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.
Supporting the motion, Usman Tasiu, representing Kiru constituency, said the outbreak had spread to communities including Kwarin Dangora, Dangora town and Yelwa.
Tasiu said an APC youth leader in Kiru town lost two children to the disease within one day.
He called for an emergency committee to coordinate efforts across Rano, Tudun Wada, Kibiya, Bunkure, Bebeji and Kiru.
Saleh Ahmad, representing Dawakin Tofa, urged the government to intensify vaccination and other preventive measures, warning that diphtheria is contagious and can spread quickly.
Majority Leader Lawan Husseini also called for the activation of the state’s health protection law to contain the outbreak.
He said the law allows the government to provide emergency relief and free healthcare, while also permitting the isolation of affected people and restricting movement in areas hit by infectious diseases.
Lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion after Speaker Ismail Falgore put it to a voice vote.
