The House of Representatives has instructed the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to enforce mandatory diphtheria vaccination, testing, and treatment in all healthcare facilities across Nigeria's 774 local councils. The Ministry of Information and National Orientation is also tasked with launching nationwide awareness campaigns to educate the public on the risks, symptoms, and transmission of diphtheria. This decision was prompted by a motion presented by Kwamoti Laori, representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, who highlighted the resurgence of diphtheria as a significant threat to public health.

Laori noted that diphtheria, a severe bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium species, initially emerged as a public health issue during the 2011 outbreak in Borno State, resulting in 21 deaths. Between May 2022 and February 2025, Nigeria recorded 41,978 suspected cases in states including Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina, with Kano and Yobe States being the most affected, reporting 24,062 and 5,330 infections, respectively. In response, the House has called for immediate improvements in vaccination rates, enhanced access to antitoxins, more effective treatments, and quicker clinical diagnosis to effectively manage and contain the outbreak.

Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, several health professionals and medical students have been detained amid a partial nationwide strike by health workers. The strike, which began on Tuesday, May 14, is a coordinated effort to demand fair pay, improved benefits, and risk compensation. At St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), three medical trainees were reportedly detained, including two interns and one fifth-year student. The detentions occurred under various circumstances, with one arrest taking place as students went to get dinner and another as an intern was heading to work.

Additionally, a healthcare worker from Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital confirmed that the strike was actively being observed across all departments, with the source reporting that Dr. Nebiyou, a Chief Resident of the orthopedic department, was detained from his home. The response from authorities has been described as threatening rather than open to dialogue, with efforts allegedly made to undermine the movement by recruiting unemployed physicians. In the Amhara region, two staff members at Delgi Primary Hospital were arrested, including the Outpatient Department Manager and a nurse coordinator, accused of having ties to