The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to provide for a national framework for the control of outbreaks of infectious Diseases in Nigeria and other Events Endangering Public Health and Requiring Public Health Emergency Measures and for other Related Matters (SB.413). The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report presented by Senator representing Enugu North and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases, Chukwuka Utazi. Senator Utazi, said the objective of the Bill was to establish an updated and comprehensive legislative framework providing for the norms, basis for the making of regulations, rules and guidelines and measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of infectious and contagious diseases or public health event within or outside Nigeria.
“It also provides the framework that will necessitate a declaration by the appropriate authority of a public health emergency and to provide a sound basis for the measures and actions of the appropriate authorities during the period of the public health emergencies to control and contain the spread of infectious or contagious diseases or public health events.”
Senator Utazi explained that the bill if signed into law, would ensure a timely response, control and management of public health emergencies coupled with necessary checks and balances, accountability and control.
