Qua’an Pan Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, has built a special clinic for the treatment of snakebites, which have become rampant in the area.
Mr Christopher Manship, Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Quanpan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Jos, that the number of deaths from snakebite complications had reduced significantly since the clinic became operational.
Manship said the snake anti-venom was also being administered to the patients at a subsidised rate to make the treatment affordable.
The chairman stated that he prioritised the completion of the clinic, which was initiated in 2018 by his predecessor, Mr Isaac Kwalu, because of its importance.
He pointed out that the people of the area were vulnerable to snakebites because of the location, weather, and their major occupation, which was farming.
Manship emphasised that, apart from the few civil servants, 99.9 per cent of the people of Qua’an Pan were farmers and prone to snakebites.
“When you go there, you will see so many patients and their relatives because we have subsidised the anti-snake venom from about N95, 000 to N40,000.
“People come from various parts of the state and country, most especially from Taraba, Nasarawa, and Benue states.
“They come because of the low cost, and before they are discharged, they are given three to four doses of the anti-venom.
“Initially, when a snake bites you, you are sure of dying, as 98 per cent of those bitten by snakes before now had died.
“The death rate has dropped considerably, and since I became the chairman, nobody has died in that clinic,” he said.
According to him, all the staff of the clinic were specially trained outside the state to handle the cases.
He further said that apart from snake treatment, his administration had also built many other clinics and renovated others, to cater for the health needs of the people of Qua’an Pan. (NAN)
