Chima Azubuike The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has called on the Federal Government to boost antivenom production to treat snakebite cases across the states. He made the appeal while declaring open the 106th regular meeting of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors in Nigeria. Yahaya, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Jatau, noted that Kaltungo Local Government Area in Gombe, has a high incidence of snakebites, adding that the hospital in the area serves not only the state but victims from other countries.
The World Health Organisation while speaking on neglected tropical diseases said anti-venoms work by boosting the immune response after snakebite. WHO noted that they are made by immunising donor animals such as horses or sheep with snake venoms. Yahaya said, “May I appeal that the issue of snakebites in Kaltungo, which has a history that is too long be addressed.
Kaltungo, which is recorded as the community with the highest number of snakes needs the Federal Government and the World Health Organisation’s intervention. The snakebite hospital is not just serving the North-East but Cameroun and others.” The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Muhammad Pate, who spoke virtually during the opening ceremony of the event promised to strengthen the Snakebite Hospital in Kaltungo.
According to him, the government will consider local production as demands increase periodically. He said, “We are committed to bringin.