Four hospitals in Benue State have been selected by the Federal Government to provide treatment for snakebite victims under an initiative aimed at making life-saving care more accessible and affordable.
The designated hospitals are expected to receive anti-snake venom supplied by the government, helping to reduce the cost of treatment for affected residents.
The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, announced the approval on Tuesday during a meeting with ministry officials in Makurdi.
He said the facilities were chosen across Benue’s three senatorial districts to ensure that more residents could access treatment when needed.
The hospitals are General Hospital, Katsina-Ala, in Zone A; University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and General Hospital, Gboko, in Zone B; and General Hospital, Otukpo, in Zone C.
Ogwuche said the approval would support Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration in expanding access to free snakebite treatment across the state.
He added that medical personnel at the selected centres would undergo specialised training to improve their ability to treat patients suffering from snakebite envenoming.
The commissioner also praised the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, for supporting efforts to address the public health challenge.
He said the federal initiative would help ease the financial pressure on victims by providing government-funded anti-snake venom to the designated hospitals.
Ogwuche noted that farmers and rural dwellers stood to benefit significantly from the programme because of their increased exposure to snakebites.
He maintained that the state government was committed to ensuring that residents could obtain essential treatment without losing their lives or facing financial hardship.
Benue’s strong dependence on agriculture exposes many residents to snakebites, particularly during farming activities. Internally displaced persons living in crowded camps are also considered vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, James Iorpuu, disclosed last weekend that the agency had spent more than ₦160m on treating snakebite cases among internally displaced persons in the preceding six months.
The designation of the four hospitals is expected to improve access to treatment and strengthen ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable communities across the state.
