Deeply worried about the outbreak of Diphtheria in Edo State, a group, Concerned Edo Citizens Forum (CEDCF) has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to shut down schools, ban social events, and reintroduce wearing of nose masks in the state to prevent further spread of the disease.
The Edo State government however assured on Sunday that it was intensifying efforts to check the spread of the disease which has claimed three lives at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where the cases are being managed.
Speaking to journalists in Benin on the sideline of a thanksgiving service by the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, to celebrate his appointment as the Director General of the National Institute for Sports, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, incumbent deputy governor, said government was doing everything to curb the outbreak.
Idahosa, who chairs the Taskforce on Primary Health Care (PHC) Committee, hinted that he and his members would commence a visitation of the PHCs in the state from Monday to establish their level of functionality.
According to the former federal lawmaker, “We are doing everything we can to manage the outbreak and few days ago, we as a taskforce, had a meeting and all the necessary steps are being taken to ensure that we curb this outbreak. Everything is on top gear and by tomorrow, (Monday) we are going to start visiting PHCs across the state.”
The CEDF, in a letter dated June 20, 2025, signed by its convener, Comrade Roy Orihbhabor and Secretary, Austin Ibude, and addressed to Governor Okpebholo dated June 20th, said their investigation showed that the disease was spreading and more deaths were being recorded and urged the governor to place restriction on social dances and enforce the wearing of face masks.
Part of the letter read: “We humbly write to appeal for the closure of schools to curtail the spread of diphtheria disease and restrictions of parties and enforcement of face masks wearing through executive order accordingly.
“As critical stakeholder in the Edo project with responsibility to protect the interest of Edo people, we are seriously bothered about the spread of this deadly disease ravaging our dear state. Research and survey conducted around hospitals clearly shows that very good number of persons are presently down with the disease and our hospitals are over-stretched to accommodate patients hence this appeal becomes necessary to curtail diphtheria disease and its spread.
“Your Excellency, we thank you so far for the effort to mitigate the spread, but a critical and radical approach is required now to fundamentally address and tackle the disease because a healthy society is a wealthy society. The death rate has increased in recent times based on our observations and research.”