FG designates four Benue hospitals as snakebite treatment centres
The Federal Government has approved four health facilities in Benue State as designated centres for snakebite treatment, which will be stocked with venom. Read More:…
Snakebite envenomation remains a significant but often overlooked public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in rural farming communities across the North-Central and other savannah regions where agricultural work increases exposure to venomous species. Nigeria has in the past faced acute shortages of anti-snake venom, with supply gaps and high treatment costs forcing many victims to rely on traditional remedies or travel long distances to access care, often leading to preventable deaths or amputations. The World Health Organisation has classified snakebite as a neglected tropical disease, urging governments to improve access to treatment at the primary and secondary healthcare levels.
Benue State, with its large farming population, has recorded recurring cases of snakebites, making the designation of dedicated treatment centres significant for improving survival rates and reducing the burden on victims seeking emergency care. Both Tribune Online and Punch report the Federal Government's approval of four hospitals in the state for this purpose, with Punch noting that the facilities will be stocked with anti-venom. Details such as the specific hospitals involved, funding arrangements, and timelines for the centres to become fully operational have not yet been disclosed in the coverage.