KALTUNGO – The Gombe State Government said it had spent N115.58 million on the procurement of anti-snake venom for the treatment of snake bite from August, 2011 to date.
Gov.Ibrahim Dankwambo made the disclosure in Kaltungo on Tuesday while laying the foundation for the construction of a N542 million snake bite treatment centre.
Dankwambo said that the expenditure on the venom was borne by the state government and the Federal Government.
He said that the state government had spent N89.83 million while the Federal Ministry of Health spent N25.75 million on the purchase of the anti-snake medication during the period under review.
He said that treatment of snake bite victims across the state was free of charge, adding that since the government made the venom available, the number of victims availing themselves of the service had increased.
The governor said that the number of snake bite victims treated in the state increased from 3,116 in 2011 to 3,823 in 2013.
He said that victims from neighbouring states constituted 52 per cent of persons treated in the state in 2013, with Bauchi State accounting for 17.7 per cent; Adamawa, 11.7 per cent; Taraba, 15.6 per cent, and 9.1 per cent from other states.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Kennedy Ishaya, said that the Kaltungo centre had capacity to treat 200 patients.
He said, when completed, the hospital would provide access for free treatment to victims. (NAN)