Dagza Community Health Post in Hong local government area of Adamawa state records an average of 5-10 cases of snake bites weekly.
Investigation revealed that most of the casualties who are peasant farmers are from Dagza, Mombol, Zhedinyi, Kwakwa’ah and other neighbouring villages and the high rate of snake bites are usually recorded during the rainy season.
It was gathered that the cost of Anti Snake Venom (ASV) produced by India for a single person is between seventy to one hundred thousand naira (N70-100,000) and is not effective considering the species of the snakes found in those communities.
It was further learned that a Brigadier General in the Nigeria Army, Brig-Gen Y.K Musa who is an indigene of the area had assisted with drugs (ASV) to be administered free of charge on victims as part of his contribution to health care delivery, but before the intervention many who cannot afford the cost of the Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) resort to traditional means of healing.
Mr. Innocent Yerima, a former community health worker confirmed the story, explained that cases of snakebite are less in the dry season unlike during the rainy season.
“Majority of the inhabitants were farmers and nobody goes to the farm during the dry season period, we record fewer cases of snake bites in the dry season” He added Yerima then appealed to the government and relevant bodies to assist the communities with Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) considering their background.
Dr Suleiman Sa’idu, the Executive Chairman Adamawa State, Primary Health Care Development Agency ADSPHCDA also confirmed the story of the reported cases of snake bites in the area, however, said the Ministry of Health is responding to the situation and not the Agency.
“I got the information, but my Agency is not the primary one responding to it
is under the Ministry of Health, but we are working with them on surveillance and reporting”. He said
Contacted, Director Disease Control, Adamawa State Ministry of Health, Dr Bwalki Dilli said they are yet to receive the report.
“During routine reporting on a monthly basis, Disease Notification Officers of Local Government Areas will bring data, and if a number of snake bites are happening in Hong, an action could have been taken”. He added
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