Federal Government Establishes Snakebite Treatment Centres in Benue

The Federal Government has approved four health facilities in Benue State as designated snakebite treatment centres, which will be stocked with government-procured anti-snake venom. Dr Paul Ogwuche, the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, announced this during a briefing at the state secretariat in Makurdi.

The facilities are located in the three senatorial districts of the state: General Hospital, Katsina-Ala (Zone A); University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and General Hospital, Gboko (Zone B); and General Hospital, Otukpo (Zone C). Healthcare professionals at these centres will receive specialized training in managing snakebite envenoming.

This initiative supports the state’s free snakebite treatment agenda under Governor Hyacinth Alia's administration. The collaboration between state and federal governments aims to reduce the financial burden of treatment on victims, particularly benefiting farmers and rural communities vulnerable to snakebites.

The State Emergency Management Agency reported spending over N160m on treating internally displaced persons for snakebites in the past six months.