The North East Development Commission has given the Gombe State Ministry of Health 944 bottles of anti-snake venom.
Snakebites have been on the rise recently, with varied degrees of severity and species on the prowl.
Renovation of Primary Healthcare facilities in five Local Government Areas, solar power projects, and equipment for the upgrade of Filiya Primary Health Centre to cottage hospital are among the other initiatives undertaken by the NEDC as part of the Rapid Response Initiative project.
Commissioner for Health Habu Dahiru, who received the items during a symbolic presentation, praised the partnership, saying it had a direct impact on the poor and vulnerable.
According to Dahiru, the donation of snakebite vials will aid in reducing the risk faced by farmers and rural dwellers this season, emphasizing that the provision is critical.
The Commissioner said, “Snake envenomation is one of the major challenges in Gombe State and it environ.
“If you recall, the snakebite treatment centre at Kaltungo, which we are hoping will be upgraded to an institute, is a place where people come in from all the neighbouring states and beyond and it has been in operation since 1950’s and patients come in from Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba and plateau states.
“The delivery of over 900 anti snake venom has impacted positively and has reduced the death from envenomation from snakebite.”
Shehu Abdullahi, the State Director General of the North East Development Commission in Gombe, had stated that the commission is devoted to improving the well-being of North East inhabitants.
Abdullahi stated that if the region is to prosper, health must be a top focus.
He said, “The commission supplied about 944 vials of anti snake venoms in our Kaltungo Snakebite Treatment Hospital.
“The commission also supplied equipment for the upgrading of Filiya Primary Healthcare to a cottage. The commission also renovated three PHCs under Funakaye Local Government. We also renovated another three PHCs under Nafada.”
Leave a Comment