Benue State Government has secured federal approval for four health facilities to operate as snakebite treatment centres across the state's three senatorial districts.
The approval by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is expected to improve access to life-saving treatment and strengthen the state's free snakebite treatment programme.
The designated facilities are General Hospital, Katsina-Ala, in Zone A; Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and General Hospital, Gboko, in Zone B; and General Hospital, Otukpo, in Zone C.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his commitment to improving healthcare services and making essential medical treatment more accessible to farmers and rural residents.
Ogwuche also expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, for their support and partnership with the state.
He noted that the approval reflected the importance of cooperation between federal and state governments in addressing critical public health challenges.
Under the Federal Neglected Tropical Diseases Envenoming Programme, the selected facilities are expected to receive government-procured anti-snake venom to reduce the cost of treatment for victims.
The initiative will also involve specialised training for healthcare professionals at the designated hospitals to improve their ability to manage snakebite cases and provide timely medical attention.
According to the commissioner, the programme is particularly important to farmers and rural communities, where snakebite incidents can result in loss of lives, disruption of livelihoods and financial hardship for affected families.
He reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to collaborating with relevant federal agencies and healthcare institutions to ensure residents across the state benefit from the initiative.
Ogwuche added that the Alia administration remained committed to ensuring that no resident loses their life or suffers financial hardship because they cannot afford essential snakebite treatment.
Benue gets federal approval for four snakebite treatment centres