By KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna
The Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved and released the sum of five million Naira (5,000,000.00) for immediate procurement and prepositioning of anti-snake venom doses at the Kaltungo snakebite treatment and research center.
The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Gana who disclosed this in a statement, said the gesture was in response to the recent increase in number of cases of snakebite and envenomation in the hilly areas of southern zone of the state.
He noted that the occurrence of cases of snakebites often peak during the rainy season, particularly affecting farmers as they engage in their farming activities.
“In this vein, the Governor calls the attention of the people living in the high risk areas to take all precautionary measures, and urgently report to the treatment center in the event of snakebite incidence”, the Commissioner stated.
He added that the Ministry of Health will continue to engage in proactive measures in controlling the endemic problem of snakebite in these high risk areas through health education, community engagement, provision of treatment commodities as well as safety wears where applicable.
Dr. Gana also assured that the Gombe State Government is doing everything possible to protect its people from all health emergencies in the State.
Snakebite and envenomation are major public health problems in Gombe State, especially in the hilly southern region of the state, where the Kaltungo Treatment and Research Center is strategically sited, and has been operational for over 80 years.
The center serves the people of Gombe State and also attends to hundreds of cases coming annually from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, Nassarawa and Jigawa states for treatment.
