FG approves four hospitals for treatment of snake bites in Benue

Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, has announced the Federal Government’s approval of four health facilities for the treatment of snakebites.

According to the commissioner, the facilities will also be stocked with government-procured anti-snake venom.

Dr. Ogwuche disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing officials of the ministry at the state secretariat in Makurdi, stating that the health facilities cut across the three senatorial districts of the state.

According to the commissioner, “Am glad to announce to you that Federal Government has approved four health facilities across the three senatorial districts of the state as snake bites treatment centers.

“The approval marks a significant step towards expanding access towards a life-saving treatment and advancing the state’s free snakebite treatment agenda under the administration of His Excellency, Governor Hyaccinth Alia.

Dr. Ogwuche listed the designated facilities to include the General Hospital, Katsina-Ala, in Zone A; Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and General Hospital, Gboko, both in Zone B; and General Hospital, Otukpo, in Zone C.

He further stated that healthcare professionals in the designated facilities will also benefit from specialised training in snakebite envenoming management to strengthen their capacity to provide timely and effective care.

The commissioner appreciated the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, for the support of the Federal Ministry of Health in collaborating with the state government to address critical public health challenges.

He said, “Under the Federal Neglected Tropical Diseases Envenoming Programme, the designated centres are expected to receive government-procured anti-snake venom supplies, helping to reduce the financial burden of treatment on victims and supporting the implementation of the state’s free snakebite treatment initiative.

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The commissioner reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with relevant federal agencies and health institutions for the benefit of the people of the state.

He added that with the approval by the Federal Government, access to free, life-saving treatment will be beneficial to farmers and rural communities, where exposure to snakebites can threaten lives, livelihoods, and household incomes.

The commissioner stated that the Alia administration’s vision is to ensure that no citizen loses their life or suffers financial hardship because they cannot afford essential snakebite treatment.

The Federal Government’s intervention comes at a time when the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, disclosed that the agency had spent over N160 million to treat internally displaced persons for snakebites within six months.