The Federal Government has approved four health facilities for the treatment of snakebites in Benue State.
The facilities will also be stocked with government-procured anti-snake venom.
The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this while briefing officials of the ministry at the state secretariat in Makurdi on Tuesday.
He said the facilities cut across the state’s three senatorial districts.
He said, “I am glad to announce to you that the Federal Government has approved four health facilities across the three senatorial districts of the state as snakebite treatment centres.
“The approval marks a significant step towards expanding access to life-saving treatment and advancing the state’s free snakebite treatment agenda under the administration of His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia.”
Ogwuche listed the designated facilities as the General Hospital, Katsina-Ala, in Zone A; the University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and General Hospital, Gboko, both in Zone B; and the General Hospital, Otukpo, in Zone C.
He added that healthcare professionals at the designated facilities would benefit from specialised training in snakebite envenoming management to strengthen their capacity to provide timely and effective care.
