Gombe raises the alarm over rising cases of snake bite

Gombe State has raised the alarm over the increase in cases of snake bite patients seeking medical attention at the Snake Bite Treatment and Research Centre in Kaltungo.Dr Habu Ballah, the Officer in Charge, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaltungo that the increase was due to farming activities during the harvest period and rearing of animals.According to him, the centre unfortunately has run short of treatment drugs.``The Federal Government's supply finished on Oct. 16 and up to date, there has not been any supply. The last supply was 50 viles, which was administered to only 23 patients,'' he said.Although Gombe State rendered some assistance, the supply has almost finished, he said.``Actually the situation has not changed. There is still an increase of snake bite victims due to farming activities.``This is the time when farmers harvest their crops--maize, millet and ground nuts, so there is high influx of patients.'As of now, we record an average of 14 patients daily, so the harvesting time is one of the peak periods,'' he said.He explained that the centre recorded 372 cases and 388 cases in September and October, adding that in 2010, more than 3,000 patients were treated at the centre.Ballah stated that victims from Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa and Jigawa formed the bulk of the patients to the centre, with Taraba, Bauchi and Adamawa states having the highest number of victims.He decried the nonchalant attitude of some state governments to the plight of snake bite victims and called on them to change.
Click here to read full news..