Benue Stakeholders Seek Better Treatment Of Snakebite Victims

Stakeholders have called on the Benue State government and others to come out with policies that will ensure victims of snakebite get proper treatment.

Reports show that over 70 per cent of the population in Benue are engaged in agricultural activities and snake bite has become a common occurrence.

Data on morbidity and mortality due to snake bite in Benue State are scarce due to lack of community-based surveys.

Briefing the newsmen, the founder Snakebite Treatment Foundation, Dr. Michael Seni, lamented that lack of both the federal government and state government action has caused the increase menace to rural communities mostly famers in the rural areas communities.

“With the little resources l have, established a ‘Snakebite Treatment Foundation’ with the goals of providing possible and affordable treatment to victims of snakebite; educate healthcare workers in the area about snakebite treatment and management; and to educate the populations at risk on snakebite prevention,” Dr Seni said.

He said, “Between January 2022 to August 31, 2022; a total of 97 cases of snakebites occurred according to two general hospitals and two traditional snakebite healers. Out of these 97 victims, more than half of them died of the snakebite, with one recorded disability as a result of snakebite. Most death occurred from bite by vipers, puff adder, cobra and mamba species.

“However, majority of snakebite victims do not seek help in the hospital because the cost of treatment is very high and most of the time the drugs for treating snakebite is not available in the hospital. As a result, majority of the victims seek help from traditional snakebite healers.

“The problem is expected to get worse because most of our teeming graduate youths are now embarking on farming than before due to lack of jobs by government in the state. We are appealing to government come to our aid and support us with funds that will guarantee maximum treatment for the victims.

“The association wishes to import effective antivenom which does not need refrigeration, which is ideal for Nigeria environment because of lack of electricity in rural areas where the antivenom will mostly be used and to establish a snakebite treatment center in the region.”