FG urged to produce anti-snake venom vaccines
The Federal Government has been urged to expedite action on production and distribution of Anti Snake venom vaccines in the country mostly in the Northern region where the incidences of snake bites has become increasingly alarming.
The Senate gave the charge following a motion moved by Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe South) on the Alarming increase in the rate of deaths of victims of snakebites.
The problem of snakebites reportedly worsened due to scarcity of Anti-snake venom in the areas most affected.
The Senate also urged the government to procure vaccines as a matter of urgency while ensuring that it initiates steps towards local production of the vaccines.
The senate while urging its Committee on health to investigate the failure of ministry of health to supply anti-snake venom to the treatment centers and other health centers, urged the federal ministry of health to procure sufficient quantity of anti-snake venom and supply them to the treatment centers at Kaltungo, Langtang and Bambur.
Lidani had in his lead debate expressed concern that an ampoule of anti-snake venom costs N35,000 and not less than 3 ampoules dosage are required for treatment which is unaffordable by most of the peasant farmers in those areas.
He noted that the harvest season records high incidence of snake bites because the snakes come out of the holes and attack farmers harvesting crops on the ground.
Lidani expressed regrets that victims resort to traditional means of treatment which is unsafe and unreliable as a result of the non-availability of vaccines.
Senators in their contributions during debate on the expressed regrets that the situation is becoming greatly embarrassing to the country.
Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) recalled that the case of snake bites in the North East is as old as the region itself, noting that lives are lost periodically in Gombe State.
“The situation is embarrassing and it is either because we are incapable of providing solutions or that we are careless in protecting our citizens. We should ensure that we provide a long lasting solution.”
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu,said that the senate will support every initiative that will protect the citizens, adding that it is important that Nigeria begins to provide solutions and ensure that some money is spent to see that the situation is eradicated completely.
