Victims of snake bites in Kanke local government area of Plateau State are in dire need of anti-venom drugs from the Federal and Plateau Governments, a medical expert has said.
Dr Sylvester Gaknung, the Medial Director, Miko Memorial Clinic, Amper, Kanke Local Government, made the call on Wednesday in a chat with journalists in Jos.
“Over the years now, I have been crying to the authorities over the plight of victims of snake bite in this part of the state but nothing has been done.
“In fact, when we cried out last year, a team of medical experts from both the federal and state Ministry of Health came and saw things for themselves with promises unfulfilled,’’ he said.
Gaknung appealed to the government to provide N3.5 million to purchase anti-venom drugs, saying this would take care of treatment of victims in the area for a whole year.
According to him, the statisticS of victims of snake bite within the locality and its environs has neither increased nor decreased.
He expressed regret that most of the victims were peasant farmers, who had no money to treat themselves considering the cost of the anti-venom drug.
However, when contacted, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kuden Kamshak, said the State Government would never abandon its people.
According to him, government would soon partner with the affected local governments in the southern and central zones of the state to tackle the problem.
“We can’t provide free anti-venom because it is very costly but we can subsidise to help victims get treated and be safe from snake venom,’’ he said.
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