The Federal Government has donated 100 vials of anti-snake venom worth more than N25 million to the Benue State Government to support the treatment of snakebite victims. The intervention by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is expected to strengthen the state’s response to snakebite cases and help reduce deaths recently recorded across Benue.
The anti-snake venom donation is also expected to ease the financial burden on victims and their families, given the high cost of treatment. The consignment was formally presented on Friday at the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services headquarters in Makurdi.
Presenting the items, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, described the intervention as an important step towards addressing a critical public health challenge.
Ogwuche said the donation reflected Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and protecting residents, particularly vulnerable members of the population. He also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Aliu Pate, and the Federal Ministry of Health for responding to the state’s request for assistance.
According to him, the Federal Government’s intervention would complement efforts by the Alia administration to improve access to essential healthcare services. He said the availability of the medicine would help reduce treatment costs for affected families while ensuring snakebite victims could receive prompt medical attention.
“The anti-snake venom will reduce the financial burden on affected families and improve access to prompt treatment for victims of snakebite,” Ogwuche said.
The commissioner assured that the state ministry would properly document, store and distribute the consignment to ensure the medicine reaches patients who genuinely require it.
Receiving the consignment on behalf of the ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Cephas Hough, thanked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for what he described as a timely intervention. Hough said the anti-snake venom donation would improve Benue’s capacity to respond to snakebite cases while reducing the financial burden faced by affected residents.
He particularly acknowledged Ogwuche’s engagement with the Federal Ministry, which helped facilitate the donation. According to him, the intervention also demonstrated the importance of sustained cooperation between federal and state authorities in addressing pressing healthcare challenges.
The consignment was subsequently handed over to the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Regina Agir, for documentation, storage and warehousing. The process, officials said, would be carried out in accordance with established pharmaceutical management procedures.
Senior officials of the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, including the Permanent Secretary and directors, attended the presentation ceremony. The anti-snake venom donation comes as Benue continues efforts to strengthen access to treatment and prevent further deaths associated with snakebite incidents across the state.
