Jos- The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, on Monday in Jos expressed “deep concern’’ over the rising cases of snake bites in Langtang and other parts of the Plateau-South senatorial district.
Ochekpe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the an average of six incidences were recorded every day, and declared that such rising prevalence was “just too much’’.
“For the five days we were in one community in Langtang for the Federal Government’s free medical outreach, there were 33 cases of snake bites.
“The situation is particularly precarious because between N75,000 and N90,000 is required to treat a victim; this is quite outrageous for our poor rural dwellers,’’ she said.
The minister said that she had alerted the health minister who was already initiating steps to help the affected communities.
“One step will be to secure anti-snake venom vaccines. We also hope to encourage people to rear pigs and dogs, so that those animals can reduce the quantity of snakes,’’ she said.
Ochekpe said that the health ministry would soon dispatch a team to the affected areas, to examine the situation and work out solutions, so as to help the people.
On the free medical outreach, the minister said that 4,500 people had so far benefited in the six local governments of the Plateau-South senatorial district, and explained that 244 surgeries were carried out, while 246 persons received free eye glasses.
She emphasised the need for all communities to have good drinking water, pointing out that 50 per cent of challenges confronting the rural dwellers were water-related.
Ochekpe also called on governments and stakeholders to step up the campaigns against open defecation and the need for toilets in every household, and urged journalists to help government’s enlightenment quest in that regard.
The minister also stressed the need for more personal hygiene, noting that “small issues’’ like hand washing, usually neglected by people, had always proved to be very deadly in the end.
Ochekpe challenged journalists to play a prominent role in the growth of a democratic culture, and asked them to continue to prevail on qualified Nigerians to register to vote and also ensure that they had their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).
She charged Plateau politicians to stress issues that would unite members of the public and cautioned against promoting sentiments that could divide the masses along religious, tribal or zonal lines.
“Politicians must strive to strengthen the bond of unity; we must work toward mutual respect toward a better and more prosperous Plateau,’’ she added. (NAN)