This according to him would be in line with the federal government’s economic policy on commercializing agriculture as peasant farmers who are the most affected will be saved the cost burden of treatment. Explaining, Durfa said with majority of the nation’s rural dwellers being farmers with no wherewithal to treat snake bites on their own, government should consider free distribution of the venom as a measure towards encouraging farming. The presidential committee on the north east has over the years being distributing the venom free of charge in the region as a measure towards alleviating the plight of the people. Besides, Durfa tasked stakeholders in the health sector to deliberately design a mechanism towards ensuring measures that will lead to accessibility of anti snake vaccines especially as the rainy season sets in leading to greater risk of man and snake contact. While commending Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom for being the only known individual in the country that sponsors free treatment of victims, the surgeon lamented that many snakebite treatment centres record many deaths during the rainy season period due to high cost of treatment.

Source: The Guardian May 24, 2019 02:14 UTC